Attorney-General for Ireland
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The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then, from 1801 under the Acts of Union 1800, United Kingdom government office-holder. He was senior in rank to the Solicitor-General for Ireland: both advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. With the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922, the duties of the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General for Ireland were taken over by the Attorney General of Ireland. The office of Solicitor-General for Ireland was abolished at the same time for reasons of economy. This led to repeated complaints from the first Attorney General of Ireland, Hugh Kennedy, about the "immense volume of work" which he was now forced to deal with single-handedly.[1]
History of the Office
The first record of the office of Attorney General for Ireland, some 50 years after the equivalent office was established in England, is in 1313, when Richard Manning or Mannyn was appointed King's Attorney, or "King's Serjeant who follows the pleas" (the title Attorney General was not used until the 1530s),[2] at a salary of 5 marks a year. The Attorney General was initially junior to the serjeant-at-law, but since the titles King's Serjeant and King's Attorney were often used interchangeably, as in the case of Richard Manning, it can be difficult to establish who held which office at any given time.[2] Thomas Dowdall, for example, like Manning before him, was called Serjeant-at-law and King's Attorney in the 1460s at almost the same time.[3] Early holders of the office, including Manning, were permitted to take private clients.[2] Manning is on record as acting as attorney for Meiler Kendal in 1310, prior to his appointment as Attorney-General.[4] Casey states that the records cast very little light on the duties of the Attorney-General in the early years, possibly a reflection of his inferior status compared to the Serjeant-at-law.[2]
There are at least two references to a Deputy Attorney-General.Template:Sfn The first was in 1385, when Robert Hemynborough, or de Hemynborgh, was appointed Attorney-General "with power to appoint a Deputy".[5] Two centuries later, Edward Butler, who became Attorney-General in 1582, had acted as Deputy from 1578 to 1580.Template:Sfn Apart from these two examples, there is no evidence that the Deputy Attorney-General was a permanent position, nor do we know why it was considered necessary to appoint Butler to this office (pressure of work may be the explanation).
The early Attorneys-General might be licensed to appear in certain courts only. William Rouse (1342), Peter de Leycestre (1357), William Lynnoor (1359), Henry Mitchell (1372) and John Barry (1401) were all given a patent to plead in the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of Exchequer.[5] John White was described in 1426 as "King's Attorney in the King's Bench and the Exchequer".[6] Robert le Hore in 1379 was appointed King's Attorney to plead "before the justices of the Bench (this was not the Couurt of Bench but an early name for the Court of Common Pleas) and the Treasurer and chamberlains of the Exchequer".[7] In 1499 Clement Fitzleones, less typically, was appointed "King's Attorney in all Courts".[8] The Serjeant-at-law, by contrast, was generally licensed to appear in all the Royal Courts, although John Haire in 1392 was described as "Serjeant-at-law of our Lord the King in the Common Pleas".[3]
Perhaps because the Attorney-General was in the earlier centuries junior to the Serjeant-at-law, some holders of the office were probably not as highly qualified as the Serjeant. Thomas Archbold (or Galmole), appointed Attorney-General in 1478, was a goldsmith by profession, and, perhaps more suitably, was also Master of the Royal Mint in Ireland.
The Attorney-General and the Serjeant-at-law
In 1537 there was a short-lived attempt, following the report of a royal commission, to expand the role of the Attorney General, and abolish the office of King's Serjeant. The proposal was defeated largely through the firm opposition of the Serjeant-at-law, Patrick Barnewall, who argued that pleading cases on behalf of the Crown was and always had been the proper task of the Serjeant-at-law: "the King's Serjeant has always used to maintain the Pleas.... for this two hundred years and more". Why the more junior office was favoured over the much longer-established office of Serjeant is not clear.
From the early 1660s, due largely to the personal prestige of Sir William Domville (AG 1660–1686), the Attorney General became the chief legal adviser to the Crown. In certain periods, notably during the reign of Elizabeth I, who thought poorly of most of her Irish-born law officers, the English Crown adopted a policy of choosing only English lawyers for this office, and also the Solicitor-General.[2] Her successor King James I in 1620, on the appointment of Sir William Ryves, noted that the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General "have always been of the King's choice and special nomination",[5] and that they were the Crown servants in whom the King places, above his other learned counsel and officers of the Court: "his more special trust regarding the preservation of his revenue and possessions". It is interesting that the King here seems to place the Attorney and the Solicitor above the Serjeant-at-law in importance.[5]
Attorney-General in politics
The Attorney-General, in later centuries at least,[2] was always a member of the Privy Council of Ireland (in earlier centuries as a rule only the Serjeant-at-law attended the Council, but Stephen Roche, Attorney General 1441–44, attended the Great Council of 1441).[2]
A strong Attorney, like Philip Tisdall, William Saurin, or Francis Blackburne, could exercise great influence over the Dublin administration. Tisdall (AG 1760–1777), was for much of his tenure as Attorney General also the Government leader in the Irish House of Commons, and a crucial member of the administration. Saurin (AG 1807–1822) was regarded for many years as the effective head of the Dublin Government, until his career was ended by his opposition to Catholic emancipation.[2] In 1841 Blackburne (AG 1830–1834, 1841–1842), on being challenged about a proposed appointment within his own office, said firmly that he "would not Template:Em a refusal to ratify the appointment".[9]
The office of Attorney General was described as being "a great mixture of law and general political reasoning".[9]
Attorneys-General for Ireland, 1313–1922
14th century
- Richard Manning: appears as a barrister in private practice in 1310; appointed "King's Attorney" or King's Serjeant for Ireland 1313.[3] Still in office in 1327.[10]
- William de Woodworth: c. 1327[3]
- Thomas of Westham: 1334[2]
- William Rouse: 17 April 1342[11]
- William le Petit: 1343
- Nicholas Lumbard, or Lombard: 1345
- Robert de Emeldon: 1348
- Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston: 1355
- John de Leycestre, or Lecestre: 1357[5]
- William Lynnoor: 12 February 1359[12]
- Henry Mitchell: 1372;[5] promoted to Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer 1376
- Robert Hore, or le Hore: 1379,Template:Efn superseded 1381. He appears to have served a second term in 1383–84, as he was re-appointed on 21 October 1383[13] and the Close Rolls have an order to pay his arrears of salary for those two years.[14] On 28 July 1385 he was ordered not to "interefere" with the Office of Attorney-General any further.[15]
- Thomas Malalo: 15 January 1381Template:Efn[16]
- Robert Hemynborgh or de Hemynborough: 18 July 1385Template:Efn (first term). He had the power to appoint a Deputy, one of the very few references in the records to such an office. His patent of office was renewed in 1407 on the same terms. He was to receive the same salary as Henry Mitchell had i.e. 1 pound and 1 shilling.
15th century
| Name | Term of office | Reason for leaving office | |
|---|---|---|---|
| William Tynbegh | 20 January 1400, having stepped down as a judgeTemplate:Efn[17] | ||
| John Barry | appointed 16 February 1401;Template:Efn[18] | still in office in 1404 [19] | |
| Robert de Hemynborough | appointed for a second term in 1407, in the same manner as King Richard II had previously granted the office to him.[20] | ||
| John Whyte or White | appointed 20 August 1412[21] re-appointed 4 October 1413[22] re-appointed 19 October 1422;Template:Efn[23] | still in office 1426, when he was described as "the King's Attorney in the Exchequer"[6] | |
| Stephen Roche | 1441 | ||
| William Sutton | 1444Template:Sfn | ||
| Robert FitzRery | 1450[24] | ||
| Thomas Dowdall | 1463Template:Efn | ||
| Nicholas Sutton | 1471 or 1472[25]Template:Sfn | ||
| Thomas Archbold | 1478 Template:Sfn | ||
| Thomas Cusacke | 1480Template:Sfn | ||
| Walter St. Lawrence | 1491Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn | ||
| Clement Fitzleones | 1499[26][27]Template:Sfn | By 1505 | Appointed as King's SerjeantTemplate:Sfn |
16th century
incomplete - Smyth in his book Chronicle of the Irish Law Officers (London, 1839) noted that the destruction of many State records made it impossible to compile a full list of holders of the office. With the exception of one roll for the 6th year of Henry VIII (1514–5), the patent rolls for the reign of that monarch were extant from the 22nd year of his reign (1530–31), at the time of the Four Courts fire in 1922.[28][29]
| Name | Portrait | Term of office | Reason for leaving office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimlestown | 1504 | 1504 | Appointed as Solicitor-General for Ireland and King's Serjeant | |
| Nicholas Fitzsimons | 1504 or laterTemplate:Sfn | 1514 | Appointed third Baron of the Exchequer | |
| Unknown | ||||
| Thomas St. Lawrence | 18 August 1532Template:Efn[30] | 12 August 1535 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn[31][32] |
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) | |
| Robert Dillon | August 1535Template:Efn | 17 January 1554 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn[33][34] also [35][36] |
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) | |
| Barnaby Skurloke or Skurlog | 1554Template:Efn[37][38][39] re-appointed 26 January 1559[40][41] |
1559 | Dismissed | |
| James Barnewall | 3 September 1559Template:Efn[42] | |||
| Lucas Dillon | 8 November 1566Template:Efn[43] | 17 May 1570 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn[44] |
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | |
| Edward Fitz-Symon | 4 June 1570Template:Efn[45] | 21 February 1574 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn[46] |
Appointed as King's Serjeant | |
| John Bathe | 21 February 1574Template:Efn[47] | 1577 | Removed from office | |
| Thomas Snagge | 13 September 1577Template:Efn[48] | 1580[49] | "returned to England in 1580, when he was appointed serjeant-at-law"[50] | |
| Christopher Flemyng, or Fleming | 9 September 1580Template:Efn[51] | Death | ||
| Edmund or Edward Butler | 8 August 1582Template:Efn[52] | 20 September 1583 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn[53] |
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench (Ireland) | |
| Charles Calthorpe, afterwards Sir Charles | 22 June 1584Template:Efn[54] | 19 April 1606 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) | |
17th century
| Name | Portrait | Term of office | Reason for leaving office | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sir John Davys or Davies MP for County Fermanagh (1613)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Bishop Joseph Hall.png | 19 April 1606Template:Efn | 1619 | Resigned |
| Sir William Ryves | 30 October 1619Template:Efn | 7 August 1636 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) | |
| Richard Osbaldeston of Gray's Inn |
7 August 1636Template:Efn | June 1640 | Death | |
| Sir Thomas Tempest | 20 July 1640Template:Efn | |||
| William Basil | 18 July 1649Template:Efn | 24 January 1659Template:Efn | Appointed as Chief Justice of the Upper Bench for Ireland | |
| Robert Shapcote | March 1659 | May 1659 | Deprived of the position when the Rump Parliament was restored | |
| Unknown | May 1659 | February 1660 | ||
| Robert Shapcote | February 1660Template:Efn | May 1660 | Elected as MP for Tiverton in the Parliament of England in the Convention Parliament (1660), which assembled for the first time on 25 April 1660. | |
| Sir William Domville MP for County Dublin (1661-66)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
23 June 1660Template:Efn | Retired | ||
| Sir Richard Nagle MP for County Cork (1689)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
31 December 1686Template:Efn | 3 October 1691Template:EfnTemplate:Efn | Jacobite Ireland ceased to exist due to the Treaty of Limerick | |
| Sir John Temple | 30 October 1690Template:EfnTemplate:Efn | Retired | ||
| Robert Rochfort MP for County WestmeathScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Robert Rochfort.jpg | 10 May 1695Template:Efn | 12 June 1707 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer |
18th century
| Name | Portrait | Term of office | Reason for leaving office | Subsequent peerage, if any | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alan Brodrick MP for Cork CityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Alan Brodrick.jpg | 12 June 1707Template:Efn | 24 December 1709 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland | Viscount Midleton |
| John Forster MP for Dublin CityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
24 December 1709Template:Efn | DismissedTemplate:Efn[55] - Appointed as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland, 1714 | |||
| Sir Richard Levinge, Bt MP for Longford Borough (to 1713) MP for Gowran (1713) MP for Kilkenny City (from 1713)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
4 June 1711Template:Efn | DismissedTemplate:Efn[56]Template:EfnTemplate:Sfn - Appointed as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland, 1721 | |||
| George Gore MP for Longford BoroughScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
3 Nov 1714 | 13 May 1720 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) | ||
| John Rogerson MP for Dublin CityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
14 May 1720Template:Efn | 3 April 1727 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland | ||
| Thomas Marlay MP for LanesboroughScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 May 1727Template:Efn | 29 September 1730 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | ||
| Robert Jocelyn MP for NewtownardsScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Robert Jocelyn, 1st Viscount Jocelyn.jpg | 29 September 1730Template:Efn | 30 August 1739 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | Viscount Jocelyn |
| John Bowes MP for TaghmonScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:John Bowes.jpg | 3 Sep 1739Template:Efn | 21 December 1741 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | Baron Bowes |
| St George Caulfeild MP for TulskScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
23 Dec 1741 Template:Efn | 27 August 1751 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland | ||
| Warden Flood MP for CallanScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
27 August 1751Template:Efn | 31 July 1760 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland | ||
| Philip Tisdall MP for Dublin University (to 1776) MP for Armagh Borough (1768–69 and 1776–77)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Angelika Kauffmann Portrait Philip Tisdall.jpg | 31 July 1760Template:Efn | 11 September 1777 | Death | |
| John Scott MP for MullingarScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell by Gilbert Stuart.jpg | 17 Oct 1777Template:Efn | DismissedTemplate:Efn[57] Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland, 1784 |
Earl of Clonmell | |
| Barry Yelverton MP for CarrickfergusScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
2 July 1782Template:Efn | 29 November 1783 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | Viscount Avonmore | |
| John Fitzgibbon MP for KilmallockScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:1stEarlOfClare.jpg | 29 Nov 1783Template:Efn | 13 June 1789 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | Earl of Clare |
| Arthur Wolfe MP for Coleraine (to 1790)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". MP for Jamestown (1790–1797)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". MP for Dublin City (1797–1798)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Portrait of Arthur Wolfe (Viscount Kilwarden) by Hugh Douglas Hamilton.jpg | 16 July 1789Template:Efn | 13 June 1798 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland | Viscount Kilwarden |
| John Toler MP for GoreyScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:John-Toler-1st-Earl-of-Norbury.jpg | 26 June 1798Template:Efn | 22 October 1800 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland | Earl of Norbury |
_by_Hugh_Douglas_Hamilton.jpg){kind=link}
19th century
| Name | Portrait | Term of office | Political party | Reason for leaving office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| John Stewart MP for Bangor (Parliament of Ireland) (to 31 December 1800)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". MP for Tyrone (UK Parliament) (from 1 March 1802)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
9 December 1800 Template:Efn |
Retired/resignedTemplate:Efn[58] citing Template:Sfn | ||||
| Standish O'GradyTemplate:EfnTemplate:Sfn | 28 May 1803 Template:Efn[59] |
5 October 1805 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | |||
| William Plunket MP for Midhurst (1807)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:William Conygham Plunket.jpg | 15 October 1805 Template:Efn |
| |||
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1822 - see below | |||||
| William Saurin | 15 May 1807 Template:Efn |
Template:Redirect category shellTemplate:EfnTemplate:SfnTemplate:EfnTemplate:Sfn[61] |
Dismissed | |||
| William Plunket MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:William Conygham Plunket.jpg | 15 January 1822 | 18 June 1827Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland | |
| Henry Joy | 18 June 1827Template:Efn | 6 January 1831 Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | ||
| Edward Pennefather | 23 December 1830 Template:SfnTemplate:EfnTemplate:Sfn |
|
Declined to serve | |||
| Francis Blackburne | File:FrancisBlackburne.jpg | 11 January 1831 Template:EfnTemplate:Efn |
Template:Redirect category shellTemplate:Efn[62]Template:EfnTemplate:Sfn[63] | |||
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1841 - see below | |||||
| Louis Perrin MP for CashelScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
29 April 1835Template:Efn | 31 August 1835Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) | ||
| Michael O'Loghlen MP for DungarvanScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
31 August 1835Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) | |||
| John Richards | 10 November 1836Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) | |||
| Stephen Woulfe MP for CashelScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
3 February 1837Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | |||
| Nicholas Ball MP for ClonmelScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
11 July 1838Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) | |||
| Maziere Brady | 23 February 1839Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | |||
| David Richard Pigot MP for ClonmelScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
11 August 1840 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1846 | |||
| Francis Blackburne | File:FrancisBlackburne.jpg | 23 September 1841 |
|
Appointed as Master of the Rolls in Ireland | ||
| Thomas Berry Cusack Smith MP for Ripon, 1843-6Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1 November 1842 |
|
Appointed as Master of the Rolls in Ireland | |||
| Richard Wilson Greene | File:Richard Wilson Greene.jpg | 2 February 1846 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1852 | ||
| Richard Moore | 16 July 1846 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench (Ireland) | |||
| James Henry Monahan | 21 December 1847 |
|
Appointed as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland | |||
| John Hatchell MP for WindsorScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
23 September 1850 |
|
Ministry left office | |||
| Joseph Napier MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
February 1852 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1858 | |||
| Abraham Brewster | File:Abraham Brewster .jpg | 10 January 1853[65] |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as Lord Justice of Appeal in Chancery in Ireland in 1866 | ||
| William Keogh MP for AthloneScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:William Nicholas Keogh caricature by Harry Furniss.jpg | March 1855 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) | ||
| John David Fitzgerald MP for EnnisScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
March 1856 |
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1859 - see below | |||
| James Whiteside MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:James Whiteside.jpg | February 1858 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland in 1866 | ||
| John David Fitzgerald MP for EnnisScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
June 1859 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench (Ireland) | |||
| Rickard Deasy MP for County CorkScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
February 1860 |
|
Appointed as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) | |||
| Thomas O'Hagan MP for Tralee (1863-65)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:1stLordOHagan.jpg | 1861 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) | ||
| James Anthony Lawson MP for PortarlingtonScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1865 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) in December 1868 | |||
| John Edward Walsh MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
25 July 1866 |
|
Appointed as Master of the Rolls in Ireland | |||
| Michael Morris MP for Galway BoroughScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:1stLordKillanin.jpg | 1 November 1866 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland) | ||
| Hedges Eyre Chatterton MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1867 |
|
Appointed Vice-Chancellor of Ireland | |||
| Robert Warren MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1867 |
|
Appointed the Irish Probate Judge | |||
| John Thomas Ball MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:John Thomas Ball ILN.jpg | 1868 |
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1874 - see below | ||
| Edward Sullivan MP for MallowScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
12 December 1868 |
|
Appointed as Master of the Rolls in Ireland | |||
| Charles Robert BarryTemplate:Efn | File:Charles Robert Barry, Vanity Fair, 1889-12-21.jpg | 26 January 1870 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the Court of Queen's Bench (Ireland) | ||
| Richard Dowse MP for Londonderry CityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Richard Dowse, Vanity Fair, 1871-03-25,crop.jpg | 13 January 1872 |
|
Appointed as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) | ||
| Christopher PallesTemplate:Efn | File:ChristopherPalles (cropped).jpg | 5 November 1872 | 10 February 1874Template:Efn |
|
Appointed as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer | |
| John Thomas Ball MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:John Thomas Ball ILN.jpg | 12 March 1874 |
|
Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | ||
| Henry Ormsby | 21 January 1875 |
|
Appointed as Judge of the Landed Estates Court | |||
| George Augustus Chichester MayTemplate:Efn | 27 November 1875 |
|
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland | |||
| Edward Gibson MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Portrait of Edward Gibson, 1st Baron Ashbourne.jpg | 15 February 1877 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1885 | ||
| Hugh Law MP for County LondonderryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
10 May 1880 |
|
Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | |||
| William Moore Johnson MP for MallowScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
17 November 1881 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| Andrew Marshall Porter MP for County LondonderryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
3 January 1883 |
|
Appointed as Master of the Rolls in Ireland | |||
| John NaishTemplate:Efn | 19 December 1883 |
|
Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | |||
| Samuel Walker MP for County LondonderryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1885 |
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1886 - see below | |||
| Hugh Holmes MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
3 July 1885 |
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1886 - see below | |||
| Samuel WalkerTemplate:Efn | February 1886 |
|
Ministry left office - he was appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1892 | |||
| Hugh Holmes MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
August 1886 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| John George Gibson MP for Liverpool WaltonScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1887 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| Peter O'Brien | File:1stLordOBrien.jpg | 1888 |
|
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland | ||
| Dodgson Hamilton Madden MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
1890 |
|
Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| John Atkinson | File:LordAtkinson.jpg | 1892[66] |
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1895 - see below | ||
| The MacdermotTemplate:Efn | August 1892 |
|
Ministry left office (he died before his party regained office) | |||
| John Atkinson MP for North LondonderryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:LordAtkinson.jpg | 8 July 1895 |
|
Appointed to the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | ||
.jpg){kind=link}
20th century
| Name | Portrait | Term of office | Political party | Reason for leaving office | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| James Campbell MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:James Campbell, Vanity Fair, 1909-08-25 (cropped).jpg | 4 December 1905 |
|
Ministry left office - he was reappointed in 1916 - see below | ||
| Richard Cherry MP for Liverpool Exchange (1906–10)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:Richard Cherry.jpg | 22 December 1905 |
|
Appointed as a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ireland | ||
| Redmond Barry MP for North Tyrone (1907–11)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:1911 Redmond Barry.jpg | 2 December 1909 |
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Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | ||
| Charles O'Connor | 26 September 1911 |
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Appointed as Master of the Rolls in Ireland | |||
| Ignatius O'Brien | File:Ignatius John O'Brien, 1st Baron Shandon.jpg | 24 June 1912 |
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Appointed as Lord Chancellor of Ireland | ||
| Thomas Molony | 10 April 1913 |
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Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| John Moriarty | 20 June 1913 |
|
Appointed as a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal in Ireland | |||
| Jonathan Pim | 1 July 1914 |
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Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| John Gordon MP for South LondonderryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
8 June 1915 |
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Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| James Campbell MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
File:James Campbell, Vanity Fair, 1909-08-25 (cropped).jpg | 9 April 1916 |
|
Appointed as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland | ||
| James O'Connor | 8 January 1917 |
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Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| Arthur Samuels MP for Dublin UniversityScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
7 April 1918 |
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Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Ireland | |||
| Denis Henry MP for South LondonderryScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
6 July 1919 |
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Appointed as the first Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland, 15 August 1921 | |||
| Thomas Watters Brown MP for North DownScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". |
5 August 1921 | 16 November 1921 |
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Appointed as a Judge of the High Court of Justice in Northern Ireland, 8 February 1922 | ||
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The office was vacant from 16 November 1921[67] and succeeded by the Attorney General of the Irish Free State on 31 January 1922. The office of Attorney General for Northern Ireland had been created in June 1921.
Notes, references and sources
Footnotes
References
- Haydn's Book of Dignities (for pre-1691 names and dates)
Sources
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Further reading
- Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
External links
- Attorney-General for Ireland, list of office holders 1835–1921, with links to their Hansard contributions; from millbanksystems.com
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- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1". Until 1929 the Attorney General had no full-time civil servants to assist him in giving legal advice, although there were a number of parliamentary draughtsmen.
- ↑ a b c d e f g h i Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b c d Hart, A.R. The History of the King's Serjeants at law in Ireland. Four Courts Press, 2000. pp. 15, 20, 21.
- ↑ Patent Roll 4 Edward II
- ↑ a b c d e f Smyth Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland Henry Butterworth London 1839
- ↑ a b Close Roll 5 Henry VI
- ↑ Close Roll 2 Richard II
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ The National Archives Officers in Ireland anno primo R. Edward III, with their yearly fees
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 3 - 17 April 1342
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 1 - 12 February 1359
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 6 - 21 October 1383
- ↑ Close Roll 8 Richard II
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 40 - 28 July 1385 - Patent Roll 9 Richard II
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 77 - 15 January 1382
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 31 - 16 January 1400 (approximate date)
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 15 - 16 February 1400
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 123 - 20 January 1404
- ↑ Patent Roll 8 Henry IV
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 140 - 20 August 1412
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 23 - 4 October 1413
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 6 - 17 November 1426
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 47 - 10 October 1450
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 6 - 22 May 1471
- ↑ A Calendar of Irish Chancery Letters c.1244-1509, published by Trinity College Dublin Entry 3 - 25 October 1499
- ↑ Entry 4 - 4 November 1499
- ↑ Calendar of the patent and close rolls of Chancery in Ireland, page xxxviii
- ↑ page 2
- ↑ Letters Patent - 25 - 19 August, 24 and 25 Henry VIII
- ↑ Fiant - 44 - 12 August 1535
- ↑ Patent - 44 - no date in 1534-6
- ↑ Fiant - 22 - 17 January 1554
- ↑ Patent - 52 - 17 January 1554
- ↑ Fiant - 41 - 16 April 1554
- ↑ Patent - 53 - 16 April 1554
- ↑ Patent - 28 - 15 June 1556 (2 & 3 Philip & Mary) - Membrane 7
- ↑ Fiant - 233 - 1558 - no date
- ↑ Patent - page 373 - Art. 70 - no date in 1557/8 (4 & 5 Philip & Mary)- Membrane 9
- ↑ Fiant - 35 - 26 January 1559
- ↑ Patent - 169 - Membrane 15
- ↑ Patent - 178 - 3 September 1559 - John Barnewall
- ↑ Fiant - 946 - 8 November 1566
- ↑ Fiant - 1551 - 4 June 1570
- ↑ Fiant - 1552 - 4 June 1570
- ↑ Fiant - 2551 - 21 February 1574
- ↑ Fiant - 2552 - 21 February 1574
- ↑ - Letter of Appointment - 13 September, 20 Elizabeth (1578)
- ↑ Bedfordshire Library Website, Local Biographies - Thomas Snagge, retrieved 4 May 2023
- ↑ Template:Cite ODNB
- ↑ Fiant - 3662 - 9 September 1580
- ↑ Fiant - 4010 - 28 August 1582
- ↑ - Fiant - 4211 - 20 September 1583
- ↑ Fiant - 4458 - 22 June 1584
- ↑ Dictionary of Irish Biography
- ↑ Dictionary of Irish Biography
- ↑ Dictionary of Irish Biography
- ↑ Dictionary of Irish Biography, citing History of Parliament
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ a b Template:Cite ODNB
- ↑ cited in Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Template:Cite ODNB
- ↑ Template:Cite IrishBio
- ↑ The transition from the Tory Party to the Conservative Party is considered to have occurred with the Tamworth Manifesto in December 1834
- ↑ Template:Cite ODNB
- ↑ Template:Cite ODNB
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".