King Edward Tenison Biography
Edward King-Tenison, born in 1805 at Chateau Kilronan, received his education at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he received a master's degree. In 1825, he joined the army and served as an officer of the 14th Light Dragoons until 1836. Following his retirement from the army, he served as justice of the peace and high sheriff for counties Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo, before becoming Lord Lieutenant for Roscommon and Sligo.
In 1853, he joined the Royal Photographic Society and exhibited his works for the first time at the Great Industrial Exhibition of 1853 in Dublin. The following year, he helped found the Dublin Photographic Society. Between 1854 and 1855, he further exhibited his works in London, including photos made with calotype and wax paper processes in Spain, Belgium and Normandy. He also traveled to Algeria before finishing his photographic career in his native Ireland.
Tenison first stood for election in Roscommon in 1830, but was unsuccessful. In 1847 he was elected MP for Leitrim, standing for civil and religious freedom and opposing anti-Catholic measures, but did not stand for re-election in 1852. He also attempted to reassert himself as MP on several occasions, but never succeeded. He stood in a by-election in Sligo Borough in 1860, but withdrew from the race after refusing to offer bribes to Liberal voters. His last parliamentary attempt in 1865, in Leitrim, also failed.
Tenison died in June 1878 at Château Kilronan.
