The Reverend Sir Algernon Coote: premier baronet of Ireland, first-class cricketer, & clergyman

Sir Algernon Coote, 11th Baronet (29th September 1817 – 20th November 1899) was the premier Irish baronet,  first-class cricketer,  and clergyman.

The son of Sir Charles Coote and Caroline Elizabeth Whaley, he was born at Ballyfin in Ireland and was later educated at Eton College, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford. During his time at Oxford he played first-class cricket for the University against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Oxford in 1837. In the same season Algernon also played for the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players fixture at Lord’s, and he appeared for Oxford on nine further occasions up to 1840. One of these appearances was for a combined Oxford and Cambridge Universities team against the MCC in 1839.  In ten appearances for the Oxford team  Algernon scored 129 runs at an average of 7.16, his highest score being 34 not out.

Algernon took holy orders in the Church of England after leaving Oxford, and in 1847 he married Cecilia Matilda Plumptre, daughter of John Pembleton Plumtre of Fredville Park, and the couple had six children.  In 1856 the Reverend Coote was given the living of Nonington by Archbishop Sumner and he remained there until 1871. Cecilia Coote died in 1878 and the following year the Reverend Coote married Constance Headlam, this second marriage produced three more children.

On the death of his older brother, Charles, the Reverend Coote became the eleventh baronet, his baronetcy being the premier baronetcy of Ireland, and he also inherited the family estate at Ballyfin in Queen’s County, now County Laois, in Ireland.

Ballyfin had been bought in 1813 by the seventh baronet from William Wellesly-Pole, the elder brother of Arthur Wellesley, the future Duke of Wellington.

During his tenure at Ballyfin the eleventh baronet made some efforts to improve the lot of his tenants, including  the provision of a water supply for Mountrath and the erection of a fountain in the town.
The now Sir Algernon Coote was made High Sheriff of Queen’s County in 1895, and he died at the family home, Ballyfin House, in November of 1899, and his son, Algernon Charles Plumptre Coote, succeeded to the baronetcy.