R.W.Bro. Peter LaTouche, Senior Grand Warden, 1767.
Peter LaTouche,
(1733-1828) |
Peter LaTouche of Bellevue, County Dublin was Member of Parliament for County Leitrim from 1783 to 1797 and one of the younger brothers of David LaTouche, our Deputy Grand master in 1767.
He married firstly, in 1766, Rebecca, only daughter of Robert Vicars, of Grantstown, Queen's County (she died in December 1786), and secondly, in 1787, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Vicars, of Levally, Queen's County. There are many references to Mr LaTouche in the Life of Bishop Jebb, and Correspondence between Jebb and Knox; he without issue and left Bellevue to his nephew, Peter, fourth son of his brother David. |
His second wife had the honour to lay the foundation stone of the Female Orphan House, North Circular Road, Dublin, on which occasion a copper plate was inserted in the stone, inscribed:—"The first stone of this house, for the education of Female Orphans, was laid by Mrs. Elizabeth LaTouche, consort to Peter LaTouche, Esq., of the City of Dublin, on the 12th day of June, in the Year of our Lord, 1792, and in the 32nd Year of the reign of our Sovereign King, George the Third. Whitmore Davis, Architect." And we are told:— "Mrs. LaTouche, as a Mason's wife, had on a very handsome apron of a Royal Arch Mason, and handled her trowel very well, which was a silver one with this inscription:- "The first stone of The Female Orphan House, near Dublin, was laid by Mrs. Elizabeth LaTouche, with this trowel, on the 12th of June, 1792." (Walker's Hibernian Magazine, 1792, p. 567).
Peter LaTouche and his brother John were governors of the Orphanage (Kirwan House). The La Touche bank acted as Treasurers. Peter’s wife, Elizabeth, was its formidable headmistress, ensuring the girls were carefully “instructed in the Christian Religion and habituated to cleanliness and industry in proportion to their age and strength”. The La Touche connection to Kirwan House continued unbroken until the death of Miss Mary La Touche, a governor, in 1942.
Peter LaTouche was our Junior Grand Warden in 1766 and Senior Grand Warden in 1767.
Peter LaTouche and his brother John were governors of the Orphanage (Kirwan House). The La Touche bank acted as Treasurers. Peter’s wife, Elizabeth, was its formidable headmistress, ensuring the girls were carefully “instructed in the Christian Religion and habituated to cleanliness and industry in proportion to their age and strength”. The La Touche connection to Kirwan House continued unbroken until the death of Miss Mary La Touche, a governor, in 1942.
Peter LaTouche was our Junior Grand Warden in 1766 and Senior Grand Warden in 1767.