John Monckton, 1st Viscount Galway

John Monckton, 1st Viscount Galway (c. 1695 – 15 July 1751) was an English Whig politician and peer who sat in the British House of Commons between 1727 and 1751.

[1] A strong opponent of the policies of James II, Robert Monckton had gone into exile in the Netherlands and returned with the invading army of William III in the Glorious Revolution of 1688.

This established a strong family connection with the Whig party and Robert had gone on to win the borough of Pontefract from the Tories in the general election of 1695,[2] and later to represent Aldborough.

On 17 July 1727 the grateful Whig government of Robert Walpole made Monckton Viscount Galway and Baron of Killard, both in the Irish peerage.

In 1749 Monckton was recommended for the post of Surveyor-General of Lands, Woods and Forests in England and Wales by the Prime Minister, his brother-in-law, Henry Pelham.

Writing to his brother, the Duke of Newcastle, Pelham pointed out that "the great expense he has been at in bringing himself in, and, at last, his purchasing a borough are merits we don't meet with every day."

Hodroyd Hall, near Barnsley, seat of the Monckton family since the early 17th century.
Memorial to Jane Westenra and her children, Brewood parish church, Staffordshire.
Serlby Hall. The 1st Viscount Galway's hall was replaced by William, the 2nd Viscount, who was largely responsible for the present building.