Matthew Corbally

Matthew Elias Corbally was an Irish Liberal, Whig and Independent Irish Party politician.

Family

Corbally was the son of Elias Corbally and Mary née Keogh. He married Matilda Margaret Preston, daughter of Jenico Preston, 12th Viscount Gormanston and Margaret Southwell, in 1842. They had one child, Mary Margaret Corbally, who married Alfred Stourton, Baron Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton and had ten children. They lived at Corbalton Hall in County Meath. Corbally and his wife are buried in a sealed vault at Saint Colmcille's Church, Skryne.

Education

He was educated by Rev. Richard Norris in Drogheda, and then at Trinity College Dublin.

Political career

Corbally was first elected unopposed as a Whig-Radical MP for Meath at a by-election in 1840 but he did not stand for re-election at the next general election in 1841. When Daniel O'Connell was elected for both Meath and County Cork a by-election was called at which Corbally was again elected as a Whig unopposed. He then held the seat for the remainder of his life in 1870, joining the Independent Irish Party shortly after the general election in 1852 and joining the Liberal Party when it was formed in 1859. He was a supporter of the abolition of tithes, reform of corporations, and reform of the ballot, and was opposed to privileges being given to the Bank of Ireland.

Other activities

Corbally was also a Justice of the Peace and, in 1838, he was High Sheriff of Meath. He was also a captain in the Royal Meath Regiment.