Page:Dictionary of National Biography volume 34.djvu/447

 tions his fondness for snuff (Works, vi. 229).

MacCarthy married Lady Arabella Wentworth, Strafford's second daughter, but had no children by her.

 MACCARTHY, NICHOLAS TUITE, called the (1769–1833), divine, was the son of Justin MacCarthy, only surviving representative of the MacCarthy Reagh family, by Mary Winifred, daughter of Nicholas Tuite, chamberlain to the king of Denmark. Born at Dublin 19 May 1769, at four years of age he was taken to Toulouse, where his father was naturalised (1776) and made a French count. When seven years old he was sent to the college Du Plessis in Paris, and at fourteen he received the tonsure at St. Magloire seminary, being styled, from a property near Bordeaux, purchased by his father, the Abbé de Lévignac. His kinsman, Arthur Dillon, archbishop of Narbonne, would have at once given him a benefice in commendam, but MacCarthy could not conscientiously accept a sinecure. The revolution interrupted his studies at the Sorbonne, and drove him back to Toulouse, where he profited by his father's large library, and helped to educate his younger brothers. A weakness of the reins rendering it painful for him to kneel or to stand upright, he long hesitated to become a priest, but the death in childbed of a sister-in-law, wife of Viscount (afterwards Count) Robert MacCarthy, deputy for the Drome in 1815–20, put an end to his irresolution. Ordained in 1814, he soon became known as one of the most eloquent French preachers, and in 1817 he was offered the bishopric of Montauban, but he declined preferment, having determined on joining the jesuits. This he did in 1820, and as an Advent or Lent preacher he had a great reputation at court, in the principal French towns, and at Geneva. The revolution of 1830 led him to retire to Savoy, whence he was summoned to Rome, a preaching visit which undermined his health. Just after concluding Lent sermons at Annécy in 1833, he was attacked by a fatal illness, expired on 3 May in the bishop's palace, and was buried in the cathedral.

 MACCARTHY REAGH, FLORENCE (FINEEN) (1562?–1640?), Irish chieftain, eldest son of Sir Donogh MacCarthy Reagh, lord of Carbery in Munster, was born probably at Kilbrittain Castle about 1562. On the death of his father, in 1576, he inherited considerable private property, though the chieftainship passed by tanistry to his uncle, Sir Owen MacCarthy. Despite certain youthful indiscretions that had aroused the suspicions of the authorities, he served loyally on the side of the crown during the rebellion of the Earl of Desmond. On the final suppression of the rebellion (1583) he proceeded to court, where he was graciously received by Elizabeth, who rewarded him with a thousand marks in money and an annuity of one hundred marks. He attended the parliament held by Sir John Perrot in 1585, but in 1588 he gave great offence to government by secretly marrying his kinswoman, Ellen, the daughter and sole heiress of Donal MacCarthy Mor, earl of Clancar, and thus prospectively reuniting in himself the two main branches of the Clan Carthy. His conduct, and a rumour that he was intriguing with Spain, induced government to issue orders for his instant arrest, and for a thorough investigation of the whole business. Six months later he was removed to Dublin, and thence to London, where on his arrival, on 10 Feb. 1589, he was immediately committed to the Tower. A few days afterwards his wife, acting, it was supposed, on his instructions, escaped from Cork. On 23 March Florence was examined before the privy council. He denied all complicity with Sir William Stanley [q. v.]; but not being successful in entirely removing suspicion, he was recommitted to the Tower. Fifteen months later his wife was allowed to appear at court, and the Earl of Ormonde offering to stand surety for him in the sum of 1,000l., he was on 19 Jan. 1591 liberated on condition that he did not quit the realm, nor go more than three miles outside the city without permission. He, however, succeeded in interesting Lord Burghley in his case, and having obtained protection against his creditors, together with a permission to recover, if possible, an old fine of 500l. due to the crown from Lord Barry, to whose malice, incurred during the time of the Desmond rebellion, he attributed his arrest, he returned to Ireland, whither his wife and child had a