Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin

Murrough MacDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin, September 1614 – 9 September 1673, was an Irish nobleman and soldier from Munster. Brought up a Protestant, he helped secure Ireland for Parliament during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but later joined the exiled Charles II.

Following the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and commencement of the Irish Confederate Wars, Charles I appointed Inchiquin governor of Munster. He had some small success, but was hampered by lack of funds. His forces dispersed at the truce of 1643.

Murrough visited Charles I at Oxford in 1644, but found it expedient to submit to the English Parliament the same year as the Parliamentarians being masters of sea, were the only people who could help the Munster Protestants defend themselves against Roman Catholics. He was made President of Munster by Parliament, and sought to enhance his position with the supplies brought to him by Philip Sidney, Lord Lisle (afterwards the 3rd earl of Leicester).

In 1647, Murrough became gradually master of the south of Ireland declaring for Charles II in 1648. He fortified the southern ports against Parliament and made a truce with the Irish Confederates in 1648. He was joined by Duke of Ormonde, with whom he got possession of Drogheda and Dundalk. However he lost influence in Munster, which revolted after Oliver Cromwell's landing in 1649. He captured and attempted to hold Kilmallock in late 1649, but bowing to the inevitable and after retiring west of the River Shannon he left Ireland for France in early 1650.

Made one of the royal council and created Earl of Inchiquin in 1654; Murrough served under the French in Catalonia in 1654. In 1656 he was involved in the Sexby plot to assassinate Oliver Cromwell and restore the Monarchy. In 1660 he was taken prisoner by the Algerines, and was ransomed the same year. He became high steward of Queen Henrietta Maria's household, and retired to Ireland living quietly after 1663.