He was elected at the
1852 general election as one of the two members of parliament (MPs) for
County Waterford. Both Esmonde and his fellow Waterford MP
Nicholas Mahon Power were elected as candidates of the
Irish Liberal Party, which had been in alliance with nationalists. Power was accused of acting "selfishly and parsimoniously" towards Esmonde, who was described at the time as hoisting "
free trade and liberal colours". Esmonde's election was the subject of a
petition by the defeated
Conservative candidate Richard Hely-Hutchinson, who alleged
personation and intimidation. The names of people who were not entitled to vote were struck off the return, but Esmonde's election was upheld. The alliance of nationalists and liberals faltered after the election, and Esmonde was one of 40 Irish Liberals who transferred their support to the new
Independent Irish Party. The new party foundered, and Esmonde was re-elected as a Liberal at the next 4 general elections. On 2 June, he was appointed by as a
Junior Lord of the Treasury in the
Liberal Government of
Earl Russell. As an
office of profit under
the Crown, the Parliamentary rules of the time required him to
seek re-election, and on 9 June he was returned unopposed. Described by
The Times newspaper of London as a "zealous and attached member of the
Roman Catholic communion", He was one of the speakers at a rally in Dublin in November 1870 to protest at the loss of the temporal power of the Pope. At the
1874 general election, he was returned again for Waterford, this time as a candidate of the newly reconstituted
Home Rule Party. == See also ==