Background
He was born at Street James"s, Westminster, and served for less than a year as a representative in the Irish House of Commons for Carrickfergus before succeeding his father as second Marquess of Donegall in 1799.
He was born at Street James"s, Westminster, and served for less than a year as a representative in the Irish House of Commons for Carrickfergus before succeeding his father as second Marquess of Donegall in 1799.
Chichester was admitted to the Irish Privy Council in 1803 and later served as Lord Lieutenant of County Donegal from 1831 until his death. This may have been an agreement to resolve some debts. The result of a 1753 law meant that the marriage was invalid which would have disinherited the children from the titles.
Proceedings were put in place to resolve the situation but it was the changing of the marriage act in 1822 which allowed the eldest son to retain his place in the inheritance.
Chichester died heavily in debt in 1844 at his home at Ormeau, County Antrim (which formed the basis of the Ormeau Road), and was buried in Street Nicholas"s Church, Carrickfergus.