# Richard Hennessy

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Irish Jacobite merchant

Richard Hennessy Hennessy in the military uniform of an officer of the Clare's Regiment, Irish Brigade Born 1720 Killavullen, County Cork, Ireland Died 8 October 1800 (aged 79-80 years) Cognac, Charente, France Occupations Officer, businessman Known for Founder of Hennessy, cognac Spouse Ellen Barrett Children 2

**Richard Hennessy** ([Irish](/source/Irish_language): *Risteárd Ó hAonghusa*; 1720 — 8 October 1800) was an Irish military officer and businessman, best known for founding the [Hennessy](/source/Hennessy) brand of [cognac](/source/Cognac) in [Charente](/source/Charente). He was from [County Cork](/source/County_Cork), and became exiled in France due to his [Jacobitism](/source/Jacobitism).

## Biography

Richard Hennessy was born in 1720 to James Hennessy and Catherine Barrett at Ballymacmoy House, [Killavullen](/source/Killavullen), a small village on the [Blackwater](/source/Munster_Blackwater) river, in [County Cork](/source/County_Cork), then part of the [Kingdom of Ireland](/source/Kingdom_of_Ireland).[1] His family were [Irish Catholics](/source/Irish_Catholic), and Hennessy grew up supporting [Jacobitism](/source/Jacobitism), which led him to seek exile in 1740 at the age of nineteen.[1]

He went to [Bourbon France](/source/Bourbon_France), where he joined [Dillon's Regiment](/source/Dillon's_Regiment_(France)) in the [Irish Brigade](/source/Irish_Brigade_(France)) of the [French Royal Army](/source/French_Royal_Army), serving as an officer in the service of King [Louis XV](/source/Louis_XV).[1] Hennessy fought at [Fontenoy](/source/Battle_of_Fontenoy) in 1745. In 1763, he married Ellen Barrett and, in 1765, founded the Hennessy [cognac](/source/Cognac) distillery in [Charente](/source/Charente).[1][2]

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-IEye_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-IEye_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-IEye_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-IEye_1-3) ["Hennessy"](http://www.irelandseye.com/irish/traditional/names/family/hennessy.shtm). Ireland's Eye. Retrieved 4 February 2025.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Hennessy Launches Richard Hennessy Magnum"](https://elitetraveler.com/finest-dining/hennessy-launches-richard-hennessy-magnum). 13 June 2024.

## Further reading

- *Le Choix de Cognac : l'établissement des négociants irlandais en eau-de-vie au XVIIIe siècle*, by Louis Cullen

- *La naissance d'une dynastie du cognac Richard Hennessy 1727–1800*, by Monique le Tac

- *Les Réfugiés jacobites dans la France du XVIIIe siècle*, by Patric Clarke de Dromantin

- *Archives de la Maison Hennessy*

## External links

- ["Hennessy, Richard"](http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/9780198614128.001.0001/odnb-9780198614128-e-63660) at *Oxford Dictionary of National Biography*

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States France BnF data People Ireland Other IdRef Yale LUX

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