Edmund Sexten Pery

The politics of virtue and intrigue in eighteenth-century Ireland

David A. Fleming

“David A. Fleming tells the story of how Pery operated as a prominent ‘patriot’ for 30 years from the mid-1750s. Pery also played a significant role in the development of Limerick city … His ‘prominent role in shaping patriot ideology and the hidden part he played in securing “Free Trade” in 1779 and legislative independence in 1782 is explored in this biography, as are the successes and failures of the economic and urban projects he championed ... Fleming’s clear prose means it is accessible to a general reader who already has an interest in the subject. Pery comes across as the ultimate politician of the time (or all times?): loyal to certain ideals, open to exploiting personal ambition and profit, open to compromise and willing to negotiate with – and alternatively be distrusted by – all sides”. History Ireland, September/October 2023