CHARLEMONT, JAMES CAULFEILD, 1ST EARL OF (1728-1799), Irish statesman, son of the third viscount Charle mont, was born in Dublin on Aug. 18, 1728, and succeeded his father as fourth viscount in 1734• Lord Charlemont is histori cally interesting for his political connection with Flood and Grat tan. For various early services in Ireland he was made an earl in 1763, but he disregarded court favours and cordially joined Grattan in 178o in the assertion of Irish independence, being chosen commander-in-chief of the volunteer force. He was presi dent of the volunteer convention in Dublin in November 1783, and was a strong opponent of the proposals for the Union. Lord Charlemont was a cultivated man, with liberal and artistic tastes, and his house was a centre of literary society in Dublin. He died on Aug. 4, 1799.
See F. Hardy, Memoirs of the political and private life of James Caul f eild, Earl of Charlemont (am; 2nd ed., 1812) ; Original Letters, principally from Lord Charlemont, . . . Edmund Burke, . . . etc. (5820).