ORRERY, ROGER BOYLE, 1sT EARL ARL OF (1621-79), Brit ish soldier, statesman and dramatist, 3rd surviving son of Rich ard Boyle, ist earl of Cork, was born on April 25, 1621, created baron of Broghill on Feb. 28, 1627, and educated at Trinity college, Dublin, and, according to Wood, also at Oxford. He travelled in France and Italy, and coming home took part in the expedition against the Scots. He returned to Ireland on the out break of the rebellion in 1641 and fought with his brothers at the battle of Liscarrol in September 1642. On the resignation of the marquis of Ormonde, Lord Broghill consented to serve under the parliamentary commissioners till the execution of the king, when he retired from public life. He was engaged in royalist schemes, however, when Cromwell visited him, and, explaining that he knew all about his activities, offered him a chance of clearing himself by serving the Commonwealth in Ireland. He accepted, and served Cromwell faithfully throughout the Irish campaign.
Orrery was returned to Cromwell's parliaments of 1654 and 1656 as member for the county of Cork, and also in the latter assembly for Edinburgh, for which he elected to sit. He served that year as lord president of the council in Scotland; and when he returned to England he was included in the inner cabinet of Cromwell's council, and was nominated in 1657 a member of the new House of Lords. On Cromwtll's death he gave his support to Richard; but as he saw no possibility of maintaining the govern ment he left for Ireland, where by resuming his command in Munster he secured the island for Charles and anticipated Monk's overtures by inviting him to land at Cork. He sat for Arundel
in the Convention and in the parliament of 1661, and at the Restoration was taken into great favour. On Sept. 5, 166o, he was created earl of Orrery. The same year he was appointed a lord justice of Ireland and drew up the act of Settlement. He continued to exercise his office as lord-president of Munster till 1668, when he resigned it on account of disputes with the duke of Ormonde, the lord-lieutenant. On Nov. 25 he was impeached by the House of Commons for "raising of money by his own au thority upon his majesty's subjects," but the proceedings were interrupted by the prorogation of parliament and were not after wards renewed. He died on Oct. 26, 1679.