Arthur Acheson, 1st Earl of Gosford

The Right Honourable The Earl of Gosford
The Earl of Gosford by Gilbert Stuart
Member of Parliament for Old Leighlin
In office 1783–1791
Preceded by	Robert Jephson Sir John Blaquiere
Succeeded by	Edward Cooke Patrick Duigenan
Personal details
Born	c. 1744-5
Died	14 January 1807 Bath, England
Spouse(s)	Millicent Pole (m. 1774)
Children	Archibald Acheson, 2nd Earl of Gosford

Arthur Acheson, 1st Earl of Gosford ( c. 1744-5 – 14 January 1807), known as The Viscount Gosford between 1790 and 1806, was an Irish peer of Scottish descent and politician.

Arthur Acheson was born c. 1744-5, the eldest son of Archibald Acheson, 1st Viscount Gosford and his wife Mary, youngest daughter of John Richardson. Arthur succeeded to the viscountcy upon the death of his father in 1790. He was subsequently created Earl of Gosford in February 1806. Acheson was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Old Leighlin from 1783 until 1791.

Gosford was governor of County Armagh at the time of the Armagh disturbances of 1795 and denounced the Protestant extremists:

It is no secret that a persecution is now raging in this country… the only crime is… profession of the Roman Catholic faith. Lawless banditti have constituted themselves judges... and the sentence they have denounced... is nothing less than a confiscation of all property, and an immediate banishment.

In 1774, Gosford married Millicent (died 1 November 1825), daughter of Lieutenant-General Edward Pole, who was descended from the Poles of Radbourne Hall in Derbyshire. Their children were: