< Page:Biographia Hibernica volume 2.djvu
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COOTE. his death, he walked from his home to Galway and back the same day, which is a distance of twenty-six miles. He could to the last read the smallest print, without the assistance of glasses (which he never accustomed himself to), with as much ease as a boy of sixteen. He was looked upon by the most intelligent statistics of Ireland, as possessing the brightest genius for agricultural improve IIlent. THOMAS COOTE, Of Coote Hill, in the county of Cavan, is eminently enti tled to a place amongst the Worthies of Ireland, for his patriotic exertions in improving and encouraging the linen manufacture, the source of so much wealth and prosperity to his country. At the Revolution, the value of the annual export of linen did not exceed 6000l. ; but he had the happiness to live to see it exceed a hundred times that sum. This gentleman was brought up to the bar, and was admitted counsellor at law in a l l his Majesty's courts i n Ireland i n 1684. In April 1693, h e was made one o f the justices i n the court o f King's Bench. I n 1733 h e took his seat i n Parliament, a s member for the county o f Monaghan. He died April 24, 1741, a t Coote Hill, and was there buried. SIR CHARLES COOTE, Afterwards created Earl o f Mountrath, was the eldest son o f Sir Charles Coote, who was made a baronet i n 1621. The unhappy commotions o f the period i n which h e existed, gave full employment t o the military and political talents which h e s o eminently possessed. I n January 1642, h e was besieged i n Castle Coote b y twelve hundred men, under Con O'Rourke, and defended himself s o gal lantly therein, that his enemies soon found i t advisable t o withdraw themselves. Not long after h e defeated

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