BOYLE, RICHARD, one of the greatest statesmen of the 17th century, and generally styled the Great earl of Cork, was the youngest son of Mr Roger Boyle, and was born at Canterbury, on the 3d of October, 1566. He studied at Bennet college, Cambridge, and afterwards became a student in the Middle Temple. Having lost his father and mother, and being unable to support himself in the prosecution of his studies, he became clerk to Sir Richard Manhood, one of the chief barons of the exchequer; but finding that by his employment he could not improve his fortune, he went to Ireland in 1588, with fewer pounds in his pocket than he afterwards acquired thousands a-year. He was then about 22, had a graceful person, and many accomplishments, which enabled him to render himself useful to several of the principal persons employed in the government, by drawing up for them memorials, cases, and answers. In 1595, he married Joan the daughter and coheiress of William Anley, who had fallen in love with him; and she dying in 1599 in labour of her first child, which was stillborn, left him an estate of 500l. a year in land. In consequence of various services, and the great abilities he displayed, he gradually rose to the highest offices, and even to the dignity of the peerage of Ireland; to which he was raised by King James I. on the 29th of September 1616, by the style and title of baron of Youghall, in the county of Cork: four years after, he was created Viscount Dungarvan and earl of Cork; and in 1631 was made lord treasurer of Ireland, an honour that was made hereditary to his family. He particularly distinguished himself by the noble stand he made, when the fatal rebellion broke out in that kingdom, in the reign of Charles I.; and in his old age acted with as much bravery and military skill, as if he had been trained from his infancy to the profession of arms. He turned the castle of Lismore, his capital seat, into a fortress capable of demanding respect from the Irish. He immediately armed and disciplined his servants and Protestant tenants, and by their assistance, and a small army raised and maintained at his own expense, which he put under the command of his four sons, defended the province of Munster, and in the space of a year took several strong castles, and killed upwards of 3000 of the enemy: during which time he paid his forces regularly; and when all his money was gone, like a true patriot converted his plate into coin. This great man died on the 15th of September, 1634.