JENICO Lee Adam Harryman Preston, Present Baron of Mullingar (an Muileann Gearr) Co Westmeath (Contae na hIarmhí), Lords register of Ireland, born 21 Jan 1968; eldest son of Spencer Franklin formally Franklin of Herts. (see FRANKLIN) , KCB (1983), CB (1979), Barnet, Herts EN5 4AR; born 1940; educated Harrow and Peterhouse Cambridge; served with 4th RHA. Issue of JENICO William Richard Preston, 16th Viscount Gormanston; (see GORMANSTON) 2nd Lt (A/Capt) WW II; born 7 Oct 1914; married 18 Feb 1939 Pamela (died 26 March 1975), daughter of Capt Edward Dudley Hanly and Lady Marjorie Heath (see DENBIGH and DESMOND), leaving: JENICO Nicholas Dudley Preston, 17th and present Viscount Gormanston; and of Wendy Monica formally Evens of Haverfordwest, Pembs SA62 6RH, Wales; born; Carmarthen, educated; Aberystwyth (see EVANS of Haverfordwest).
education: Winchester and Trinity College, BA Arch, MA, Leicester College, member of RIBA, (1989), Bachelor of Architecture, (1989), RIBA examination part 2, (1889), RIBA residential design award, (1990), Gold Ribbon Award for design excellence in public space infrastructure, (1992), Master of Architecture, (1992), RIBA examination part 3.
professional life: Far East (1992), Singapore family holdings, plantations and estates; commissioned by the Government of Singapore (1994).
Affiliations, clubs and professional organizations: member of the Sea Cadet Corps, (1982-92), Thames Yacht Club, Cwlth Golfing Soc, Co Antrim Yacht Club, Singapore Raffles Golf Club, patron of the Fleet Air Museum and City Ballet of London.
Barony: Mullingar, Westmeath. Hugh de Lacy was the first Lord of Meath holding 50 Knight’s fees in his great Lordship. The territory was granted him by Henry II as his reward for support of the Anglo-Norman invasion in 1169. A transcript of the charter is found in the Gormanston Register, National Library, Dublin: Baron Hugh was sent over to Ireland and besides a confirmation of the Lordship of Meath, he had a charter granting him the Baronies and Lordships of Offelana, Kildare and Wicklow. As Governor of Ireland, he resumed his castle-building programme in Meath and Leinster. He was recalled in 1811 for marrying the King of Connaught’s daughter without Henry’s consent. But in the following winter Hugh was sent back. Hugh was maintained in Ireland at his castle of Durrow, Co Laoish. The chronicler William of Newburgh says that Henry was very glad at Hugh’s death and repeats the story that the Baron had aspired to the Irish crown. By his first wife Rose he had two sons, Walter (died 1241) and Hugh. A daughter Elaine who married Richard de Beaufo. By the daughter of Rodderick O’Connor King of Connaught, he had a son William (called Gorm or Blue). Baron de Lacy’s son Hugh was created Earl of Ulster by King John and the de Lacy estates were eventually carried by his sole heir, Matilda de Lacy, to David Baron of Naas. From this union emerged the Londres family whose ultimate heiress in the 14th century married Sir Christopher Preston, the direst male ancestor of the present Viscount. It was one of the early palatine towns established by the Anglo-Norman invaders at the end of the 12th century and beginning of the 13th. A priory of St. Augustine founded here by Ralph de Petyt, Bishop of Meath, in 1227, ten years later a Dominican priory was founded by the Nugents. Those two foundations survived into the early reign of Queen Elizabeth (1558-1603).
The town of Mullingar is situated on the River Brosna, between Lough Hoyle and Lough Ennel, 39 miles north-west of Dublin.