On 5 February, 1783 a royal warrant was issued to Nugent Buckingham authorising him to arrange for letters patent under the great seal of Ireland to create a new Order of St Patrick. Although the patents were apparently not issued, the order received the Royal signature on 28 February and the first chapter was held on 11 March, at which Nugent Buckingham invested himself grand master. The aim of the order was reward those in high office in Ireland and Irish peers who supported the government. It served as the national Order of Ireland, similar to the Garter in England and the Thistle in Scotland.

The original number of Knights of St Patrick was 15 plus the Sovereign. This was increased to 22, plus the Sovereign, on the visit of George IV to Ireland in August 1821. The Knights wore mantles of sky-blue satin, and the star of the Order was embroidered in silver on the right breast.

The original Knights were:

• Nugent Buckingham (the Lord Lieutenant is a Knight by virtue of office)
• Prince Edward, fourth son of George III
• William Robert, Duke of Leinster
• Henry, earl of Clanricarde
• Randal William, Earl of Antrim
• Thomas, Earl of Westmeath
• Murrough, Earl of Inchiquin
• Charles, Earl of Drogheda
• George de la Poer, Earl of Tyrone
• Richard, Earl of Shannon
• James, Earl of Clanbrassil
• Richard Colley, Earl of Mornington
• James, Earl of Courtown
• James, Earl of Charlemount
• Thomas, Earl of Bective
• Henry, Earl of Ely

The Order lapsed in 1974 with the death of the last surviving recipient, Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester.

Sources

DNB; Stowe Catalogue, p155.