William Parkinson Ruxton

Who was William Parkinson Ruxton?

William Parkinson Ruxton of Red House in County Louth was an Irish Member of Parliament.

Ruxton was the son of Charles Ruxton by his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Robert Parkinson of Red House. He inherited the Red House and rebuilt it in its present form.

He was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Ardee in 1790 and then again in 1799, sitting until the Parliament of Ireland was abolished by the Act of Union 1800. He was appointed High Sheriff of Louth for 1819-20.

On 18 January 1802 he married Anna Maria Fortescue, daughter of Thomas Fortescue of Dromisken. They had no children and she inherited Red House at his death. She died on 25 August 1865 and the estate passed to her nephew Chichester Fortescue, who adopted the surname Parkinson-Fortescue.