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George Augustus Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere (12 October 1738 – 13 May 1814) was an Anglo-Irish peer and politician. ==Early years== George Augustus Rochfort was born on 12 October 1738, son of Robert Rochfort, 1st Earl of Belvidere and Mary Molesworth. The Rochfort family, originally called De Rupe Forti, had settled in Ireland in 1243. Sir Maurice de Rochfort was Lord Justice of Ireland in 1302. Gerald Rochfort was summoned to Parliament as a baron in 1339. George's great-grandfather was the prominent lawyer Robert Rochfort, Attorney General of Ireland and Speaker of the House of Commons in 1695, and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1707. The family estate of Gaulstown lay on the shore of Lough Ennell in County Westmeath. George's father, Robert Rochfort, was a favourite courtier of King George II of Great Britain. He was made an Irish peer as Baron of Bellfield in 1737, and then Earl of Belvedere in 1756, a newly created title. Robert Rochfort built a new house near to Gaulstown, which became known as Belvedere House. Robert married Mary, daughter of Richard Molesworth, 3rd Viscount Molesworth, in 1736 when she was sixteen. It was said that he married for love, since Mary had a comparatively modest fortune. They had one daughter, Jane, who married Brinsley Butler, 2nd Earl of Lanesborough, and three sons, George, Richard and Robert. At first they lived in Gaulstown House with their young family, but Robert began spending less and less time there, and they became estranged. In March 1743 Robert heard that his wife had been sleeping with his brother, Arthur. She first admitted and then denied the accusation. Arthur, who was married with children, also claimed innocence. Rochfort began a legal action against his brother, and was awarded damages of £20,000. Arthur could not pay and fled the country. Robert imprisoned Mary on his Gaulstown estate for eighteen years, while he lived at Belvedere House. Mary escaped after twelve years but her father would not give her refuge. Rochfort took her back to Gaulstown and put her under closer surveillance. He would not let her communicate with the outside word or see her children. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「George Rochfort, 2nd Earl of Belvedere」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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