Background
Henry Parnell was the second son of Sir John Parnell. He was born on July 3, 1776.
Henry Parnell was the second son of Sir John Parnell. He was born on July 3, 1776.
Henry Parnell was educated at Eton and Cambridge.
In 1806 Henry Parnell was returned for Queen's county, for which he sat till 1832, when he withdrew from the representation. In 1833, however, he was returned for Dundee; and after being twice re-elected for the same city (1835 and 1837), he was raised to the peerage in 1841 with the title of Baron Congleton of Congleton. In 1842, having suffered for some time from ill-health and melancholy, he committed suicide. He was a Liberal Whig, and took a prominent part in the struggle of his party. In 1806 he was a commissioner of the treasury for Ireland; it was on his motion on the civil list that the duke of Wellington was defeated in 1830; in that year and in 1831 he was secretary at war; and from 1835 till 1841 he was paymaster of the forces and treasurer of the ordnance and navy. He was the author of several volumes and pamphlets on matters connected with financial and penal questions, the most important being that On Financial Reform, 1830.
He was a Liberal Whig, and took a prominent part in the struggle of his party.
Henry Parnell married a daughter of the earl of Portarlington.