Lord Chancellor of Ireland
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The office of Lord High Chancellor of Ireland (commonly known as Lord Chancellor of Ireland) was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament: the Chancellor was Speaker of the Irish House of Lords. The Lord Chancellor was also Lord Keeper of the Great Seal of Ireland. In all three respects the office mirrored the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
Contents
Origins
There is considerable confusion as to when the office originated. Until the reign of Henry III of England it is not clear if the offices of Irish and English Chancellor were distinct.[1] Only in 1232 is there a clear reference to a separate Irish Chancery. Early Irish Lord Chancellors, beginning with Stephen Ridell in 1186, were simply the English Chancellors acting through a Deputy. In about 1244 the decision was taken that there must be separate office holders in England and Ireland.[2] Elrington Ball states that the salary was fixed at sixty marks a year. Although twice what an itinerant justice was paid, at the time, this was apparently not a very generous amount, as Richard Northalis in the 1390s complained that it did not cover even a third of his expenses, and asked for an extra payment of twenty pounds.
In the earlier centuries the Lord Chancellor was always a cleric, and usually an Englishman. Lay Chancellors became common after the Reformation, but although there were a number of exceptions, the Crown retained a preference for English-born Chancellors well into the nineteenth century.
Lord Chancellors of Ireland, 1186–1922
12th century
- Stephen Ridell. Appointed in 1186.[3] (first Chancellor)
13th century
- John de Worchley (1219–1234)[3]
- Ralph Neville (1234–1235). Also Lord Chancellor of England, Bishop of Chichester and Archbishop of Canterbury.[2]
- Alan de Sanctafide (1235–1237)
- Geoffrey de Turville (1237)
- Ralph de Norwich (1237–1238)
- Robert Luttrell (1238–1245)
- William Welwood (1245–1259)
- Fromund Le Brun (1259–1283). He was elected Archbishop of Dublin and claimed the position in contest to William de la Corner from 1271 to 1279. Pope Nicholas III declared both elections void in 1279.[3]
- Walter de Fulburn (1283–1288)
- William Le Buerlaco (1288–1292)
- Thomas Cantock, Bishop of Emly (1292–1294)
- Adam de Wodington. Appointed in 1294
14th century
- Thomas Cantock, Bishop of Emly (1306–1308)
- Adam de Wodington (1308). The same as above.
- Richard de Beresford. Deputy in 1307, Chancellor in 1308
- Walter de Thornbury. Died in 1313: while he was travelling to Avignon, his ship was sunk in a storm.
- Stephen Riddel (c. 1313–1318).
- William FitzJohn, Bishop of Ossory (1318–1320)
- Roger Utlagh, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Kilmainham. Appointed in 1321.
- Alexander de Bicknor, Primate of Ireland (c. 1325 – 1337)
- Thomas Charlton, Bishop of Hereford (1337–1338).[4]
- John L'Archers, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Appointed in 1343.
- John Morice. c. 1344[5]
- John de St Paul, Archbishop of Dublin (1350–1356)[6]
- John Frowyk, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1357–1359)
- Thomas de Burley, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem 1359–1364
- Robert de Ashton 1364
- Thomas le Reve, Bishop of Waterford and Lismore 1367-8
- Thomas de Burley, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem 1368–1371
- John de Bothby (1371–1374)
- William Tany, Prior of St. John of Jerusalem (1374–1377).[7]
- John Keppock, Lord Keeper in the absence of William Tany to Jerusalem
- Robert Wikeford, Primate of Ireland (1377–1379)
- John Colton, Deans of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1379–1382). Later Archbishop of Armagh.[8]
- William Tany, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1382–1385). The same as above.[7]
- Alexander de Balscot, Bishop of Ossory (1385–1388).[9]
- Ralph Cheyne (1383-4)
- Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston 1388
- Richard Plunkett (1388–1393)
- Richard Northalis, Bishop of Ossory (1393–1397). Also Primate of Ireland from 1395 to his death.
- Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of London 1397
15th century
- Thomas Cranley, Primate of Ireland (1401–1410)[9]
- Sir Laurence Merbury, Deputy Chancellor (1403–1410). Exercised the duties while Cranley suffered from poor health.[9]
- Patrick Barrett, Bishop of Ferns (1410–1412)[9]
- Thomas Le Boteller, Prior of Kilmainham. Lord Keeper (1412–1413). The name of his family would change to Butler.
- Robert Sutton, Deputy Chancellor (1412–1413)
- Thomas Cranley, Primate of Ireland (1413–1417) (second term)[9]
- Sir Laurence Merbury (1417) (second term)[9]
- William Fitz Thomas, Prior of Kilmainham (c. 1417–1418)[9]
- William Yonge, Archdeacon of Meath (c. 1418–1419)[9]
- Richard Talbot, Primate of Ireland (1423–1426)[9]
- William Fitz Thomas (1426) (second term)[9]
- Sir Richard FitzEustace (1426)[9]
- Richard Talbot, Primate of Ireland (1426–1441)
- Thomas Chase (1441–1446)[9]
- Richard Wogan (1446–1449), Lord Chancellor[9]
- William Chevir (1446–1449), Deputy Chancellor
- Walter Devereux (1449–1451)
- Edmund, Earl of Rutland (1451–1460). Lord Chancellor, a minor who acted through Edmund Oldhall.[9]
- Edmund Oldhall (1451–1454), Bishop of Meath, Deputy Chancellor, exercised the duties of the office since Rutland was under age
- John Talbot, later 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury (1454–1460). Deputy Chancellor, exercised the duties of the office.
- John Dynham (1460–1461), Lord Chancellor[9]
- Sir Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston, Deputy Chancellor
- Sir William Welles (1461–1462)[10]
- John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester (1462–1463). By decree of Edward IV of England he held the title of Lord Chancellor for life. He continued receiving the salary of the position and exercising some of its influence until his death in 1470.
- Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare (c. 1463 – 1468). By decree of Edward IV of England he held the title of Lord Chancellor for life. He continued receiving the salary of the position and exercising some of its influence until his death in 1478.[11]
- Robert Allanstown (1468–1469)
- William Dudley (1469–1472)
- Joint Lord Chancellors of Ireland (1472–1477)
- Gilbert Debenham (1474)
- Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester (1474–1480)[12]
- William Sherwood, Bishop of Meath (1480–1482)[13]
- Robert St Lawrence, 3rd Baron Howth (May 1483, died a few months later)[14]
- Sir Thomas FitzGerald of Laccagh (c.1483 – 1487)
- Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester (1487–1492). The same as above.[12]
- Alexander Plunket (1492–1494)
- Henry Deane (1494–1495)
- Walter Fitzsimon, Primate of Ireland (1496–1511)
16th century
- William Rokeby, Primate of Ireland (1512–1513)
- Sir William Compton (1513–1515)
- William Rokeby, Primate of Ireland (1515–1521). The same as above.
- Hugh Inge, Primate of Ireland (1522–1528)
- John Alen, Primate of Ireland (1528–1532)
- George Cromer, Archbishop of Armagh (1532–1534)
- John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimlestown (1534–1538)
- Sir John Alan (1538–1546, 1548–1551). Lord Keeper from 1538 to 1539, Lord Chancellor from 1539 to 1546: removed but later reinstated.
- Sir Thomas Cusack 1 May 1546 (Lord Keeper)[15]
- Sir Richard Reade (6 December 1546 – 1548)
- Sir John Alan (1548–1551)
- Sir Thomas Cusack (1551–1554)[15]
- Sir William Fitzwilliam, Lord Keeper (1554)
- Archbishop Hugh Curwen (1555–1567). Lord Chancellor from 1555 to 1558, Lord Keeper from 1558 to 1559, Lord Chancellor from 1559 to 1567.
- Doctor Robert Weston (1567–1573)
- Archbishop Adam Loftus (Lord Keeper) (1573–1576)[16]
- Sir William Gerard (1576–1581)
- Archbishop Adam Loftus (1581–1605) the same as the above.[16]
17th century
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1605)
- Thomas Jones, Bishop of Meath
- Sir James Ley LCJ
- Sir Edmund Pelham LCB
- Sir Anthony St Leger MR
- Archbishop Thomas Jones (1605–1619)
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1619)
- The Viscount Loftus (1619–1639)[17]
- Sir Richard Bolton (1639 – November 1648)
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (14 June 1655−1656)[18]
- Richard Pepys LCJ, Chief Commissioner (1655–1656)
- Gerard Lowther LCJCP, Second Commissioner (1655–1656)
- Miles Corbet LCB, Third Commissioner (1655–1656)
- William Steele (1656–1660)
- Sir Maurice Eustace (1660–1665)[19]
- Archbishop Michael Boyle (1665–1686)
- Sir Charles Porter (1686–1687)
- Sir Alexander Fitton (1687–1690)
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1690)
- Sir Richard Pyne (1690)
- Sir Richard Ryves (1690)
- Robert Rochfort (1690)
- Charles Porter (second term) (29 December 1690 – 1696)
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1696–1697)
- John Methuen (11 March 1697 – 1703)
18th century
- Sir Richard Cox (1703–1707)
- Richard Freeman (11 June 1707 – 1710)
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1710–1)
- Sir Constantine Henry Phipps (22 January 1711 – September 1714)[20]
- The Viscount Midleton (11 October 1714 – 1725)
- Richard West (29 May 1725 – 1726)[21]
- The Lord Wyndham (13 December 1726 – 1739)[21]
- The Viscount Jocelyn (7 September 1739 – 3 December 1756)[22]
- The Lord Bowes (11 March 1757 – 22 July 1767)(Attorney-General, 1739–41)
- The Viscount Lifford (24 November 1767 – 28 April 1789)
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1789)
- The Earl of Clare (20 June 1789 – 28 January 1802)(sitting Attorney-General)
19th century
- The Lord Redesdale (15 February 1802 – 1806)
- George Ponsonby (25 March 1806 – 1807)
- The Lord Manners (23 April 1807 – 1827)
- Sir Anthony Hart (5 November 1827– November 1830)
- The Lord Plunket (23 December 1830 – November 1834)(Attorney-General, 1805–07 and 1822–27)
- Sir Edward Sugden (13 January 1835 – April 1835)
- The Lord Plunket (30 April 1835 – 1841)(see above)
- The Lord Campbell (22 June 1841)
- Sir Edward Sugden (3 October 1841 – 1846)(see above)
- Maziere Brady (16 July 1846 – 1852)(Attorney-General, 1839–40)[23]
- Francis Blackburne (1852)(Attorney-General 1831-34 and 1841–42)
- Maziere Brady (1852–1858)(see above)[24]
- Sir Joseph Napier (1858–1859)(Attorney-General, 1852)
- Maziere Brady (1859–1866)(see above)[24]
- Francis Blackburne (1866–1867)(see above)
- Abraham Brewster (Attorney-General, 1853–55)(1867–1868)
- The Lord O'Hagan (1868–1874)[25]
- Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1874–1875)
- Sir Joseph Napier, Chief Commissioner (1874–1875)
- James Anthony Lawson (1874–1875)
- William Brooke (1874–1875)
- John Ball (1875–1880)(sitting Attorney-General)[25]
- The Lord O'Hagan (1880–1881)(see above)[25]
- Hugh Law (1881–1883)(sitting Attorney-General)[25]
- Sir Edward Sullivan (1883–1885)(Attorney-General, 1868)[25]
- John Naish (1885)(sitting Attorney-General)[25]
- The Lord Ashbourne (1885–1886)(Attorney-General, 1877–80)[26]
- John Naish (1886)(see above)[25]
- The Lord Ashbourne (1886–1892)(see above)[27]
- Samuel Walker (1892–1895)(Attorney-General, February–August 1886)[25]
- The Lord Ashbourne (29 June 1895 – 1905)(see above)[27]
20th century
- Sir Samuel Walker (12 December 1905 – 1911)(see above)
- Redmond Barry (26 September 1911 – 1913)(sitting Attorney-General)[28]
- Sir Ignatius O'Brien (10 April 1913 – 1918)(sitting Attorney-General)[29]
- Sir James Campbell (4 June 1918 – 1921)(Attorney-General, 1905 and 1916–17)[30]
- Sir John Ross (27 June 1921 – 1922)[31]
References
- ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland, 1221–1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol. 1, p. 6
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Ball p. 8
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Ball p. 6
- ↑ Otway-Ruthven, A.J. History of Medieval Ireland Barnes and Noble reissue 1993 p. 256
- ↑ Ball p. 79
- ↑ Ball p. 80
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Otway-Ruthven p. 302
- ↑ Otway-Ruthven p. 3i6
- ↑ 9.00 9.01 9.02 9.03 9.04 9.05 9.06 9.07 9.08 9.09 9.10 9.11 9.12 9.13 9.14 Ball p. 98
- ↑ Otway-Ruthven p. 370
- ↑ Otway-Ruthven, p.386
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Otway-Ruthven p. 389
- ↑ Otway-Ruthven p. 391
- ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, article on St. Lawrence.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Ball p. 130
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Ball p. 131
- ↑ Ball p. 250
- ↑ James Roderick O'Flanagan,The lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of Ireland, 1870, page 345
- ↑ Ball p. 272
- ↑ O'Flanagan pp. 536–541
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Ball Vol. 2 p. 101
- ↑ Ball Vol. 2 p. 127
- ↑ Delaney, V.T.H. Christopher Palles Allen Figgis and Co Dublin 1960 p.29
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Delaney p. 29
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 25.3 25.4 25.5 25.6 25.7 Delaney p. 177
- ↑ Healy, Maurice The Old Munster Circuit 1939 Mercier Press edition p. 27
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Healy p. 27
- ↑ Healy p. 105
- ↑ Healy p. 188
- ↑ Healy p. 242
- ↑ Healy p. 263
External links
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