Richard Ryan, Biographia Hibernica: Irish Worthies, Vol.II [of 2] (London & Dublin 1821)

A NOBLEMAN who acquired some poetical celebrity in his day, was a descendant from the Nugepts of Carlanstown, in the county of Westmeath, and was a younger son of Michael Nugent, by Mary, daughter of Robert, Lord Trimleston. He was chosen M.P. for St. Mawes, Cornwall, in 1741; appointed comptroller of the household pf Frederick, Prince of Wales, in 1747; a lord of the treasury in 1754; one of the vice-treasurers of Ireland in 1759; and a lord of trade in 1766. In 1767, he was created Baron Nugent and Viscount Clare, and in 1776, Earl Nugent, with remainder to his son-in-law, the late Marquis of Buckingham. His lordship was thrice married; his second wife was Anne, sister and heiress to secretary Craggs, the friend of Pope and Addison, by whom he acquired a large fortune. She was, at the time of her marriage to him, in 1736, in her second widowhood, having been first the wife of Newsham, Esq. of Chadshunt, in Warwickshire; and secondly, of John Knight, Esq. of Bellowes, or Belhouse, or Gosfield-hall, in Essex. Much of Pope’s correspondence with this lady is inserted in the supplementary volume of the last {452} edition of that poet’s works. Earl Nugent died October 13, 1788.
 Lord Orford says that Earl Nugent was of those men of parts whose dawn was the brightest moment of a long life; and who, though possessed of different talents, employed them in depreciating his own fame, and destroying all opinion of his judgment, except in the point of raising himself to honours. He was first known by the noble ode on his own conversion from popery; yet, strong as was the energy and reasoning in it, his arguments operated but temporary conviction on himself, for he died a member of the church he had exposed so severely.
 A volume of his poems was published anonymously by Dodsley, entitled, Odes and Epistles, 1739; and there are several of his pieces to be found in the New Foundling Hospital for Wit. [End.]