Richard Lovell [apart from his (RL's) daughter Maria] is the best known of the family to-day.   Born at Bath in 1744,  Educated at Trinity College and at Oxford most of his early life was spent in England 'but returned in 1782 to Edgeworthstown where he remained except for visits until he died in 1817.   A gifted inventor he spent much time improving carts and Carriages with springs, mechanical loaders and railroad tracks for carrying peat from the bogs, the development of which interested him greatly.   He pioneered new systems of road-making and deserved the credit which later went to the Scotsman Macadam.   He also dabbled in many other inventive pursuits.   He sent a message to Galway and had a reply in 8 minutes.

Education was another of his visions, writing three volumes called "Practical Education" the contents of which were considered to be a century before their time.   In 1816 he founded a school for boys in Edgeworthstown with very advanced ideas.   Unfortunately it collapsed under the direction of his son Lovell who was inefficient through bad health caused by 11 years exile abroad.

Married four times with 22 children the last of whom Lucy died 97 aged 92 -- 153 years after her fathers birth. His eldest son Richard emigrated to the United States. A daughter Honora married Admiral Beaufort who charted most of the South Atlantic
While another daughter by his fourth wife, a niece of the Admiral, married Barry Fox of Foxhall near Legan.   His grandson Antonio Eroles died in 1911. Apart from his wife, who was a French lady was the last of the Edgeworths to reside in the family home. His wife left about the time of the first World War. With the death in of another grandson, Francis Ysidro the male line became extinct.
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