In September 1941 after supper at the White House, “a jolly party”, Franklin Roosevelt asked his guests to name four outstanding leaders. Eleanor chose: Anne Hutchinson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Emily Dickinson and Carrie Chapman Catt. Franklin nominated: Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and the Earl of Orrery.
Roger Boyle was the third son of the 1st Earl of Cork, born in 1621. Most peculiarly, when he was six years old he was created Lord Broghill in the Irish Peerage. It seems very irregular to me. He grew up to be a close supporter of Cromwell and thoroughly unpopular with Irish Catholics many of whom he killed. Somehow he was able to shift his allegiance to Charles II, was created Earl of Orrery in 1660 and died a relatively old man for such a turbulent period of history in 1679.
If I might digress, the titles of Cork and Orrery have been combined since 1753 and are mentioned in a PG Wodehouse novel. I postulated in Wooster Sauce that it is the only real title that Plum used.
To get back on track, I find it fascinating that Franklin had such a broad hinterland to include the 17th century Irish, Lord Orrery. Why did Roosevelt rate him an outstanding leader? Could it be because he was a politician able to adapt to changing circumstances? Something FDR was facing himself.
The reference to Orrery and Cork ( rather than to the correct Cork and Orrery ) is in A Pelican at Blandings, first published in 1969, Chapter One Part 3.
Lord Emsworth, attempting to distract sister Connie:
‘ I was reading my Debrett the other day, and I came on a chap called Lord Orrery and Cork. I wondered how you would address him if you met. One’s natural impulse would be to say” How do you do , Lord Orrery?”, but if you did, wouldn’t he draw himself up rather stiffly and say ” And Cork”? You’d have to apologise.’
Thank you. Bertie ate the the March 2019 edition of Wooster Sauce but Elin sent me the relevant page and I have amended the post.