Michael Ward

Who was Michael Ward?

Michael Ward was an Irish politician and judge.

He was the second son of Bernard Ward of Castle Ward, County Down and his wife Mary Ward, daughter of Richard Ward. His father had been killed in a duel in 1690, wheen serving as High Sheriff of Down.

Ward entered the Irish House of Commons for Down in 1713. In 1715 and 1727, he stood also for Bangor, but chose to sit for Down both times. In the latter year Ward was appointed a Justice of the Court of King's Bench, an office he held until 1758. He transformed Killough into a port and built a road to Castle Ward, the family's residence, to enable the lead mined on the estate to be carried to the ships.

In 1709, he married Anne Catharine Hamilton, daughter of James Hamilton. They had three children, a daughter and two sons. His only surviving son Bernard was elevated to the Peerage of Ireland, first as Baron Bangor in 1770 and then as Viscount Bangor in 1781.