Sir John Norris came to Ireland as a soldier in the English army. He captured the castle on Rathlin Island and all the inhabitants were massacred. His brief was to colonize and when this was not achieved Norris was recalled to England. In 1584 he returned to Ireland and was appointed President of Munster. In 1595 he was the general chosen to try to quell the rebellion of Hugh O'Neill. He made his headquarters in Newry, set out to relieve Monaghan and was defeated. He was instructed to negotiate peace, but retired to Munster in 1597 without having achieved this. He died a month later.

Born:	c.1547
Died:	3 September 1597