Former highest political and judicial office in Ireland
TheLord High Chancellor of Ireland, commonly known as theLord Chancellor of Ireland, was the highest ranking judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of theIrish Free State in 1922. From 1721 until the end of 1800, it was also the highest political office of theIrish Parliament; the Chancellor was Speaker of theIrish House of Lords. The Lord Chancellor was alsoLord Keeper of theGreat Seal of Ireland. In all three respects, the office mirrored theLord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
The Right HonourableJohn Methuen as Lord Chancellor of Ireland (c.1697)
There is a good deal of confusion as to precisely when the office originated. Until the reign ofHenry III of England, it is doubtful if the offices of Irish and English Chancellor were distinct.[1] Only in 1232 is there a clear reference to a separateCourt of Chancery (Ireland). Early Irish Lord Chancellors, beginning with Stephen Ridell in 1186, were simply the English Chancellor acting through a Deputy. In about 1244 the decision was taken that there must be separate holders of the office in England and Ireland.[2] Elrington Ball states that the salary was fixed at sixtymarks a year, equivalent to fortypounds sterling. Although it was twice what an itinerant justice was paid at the time, it was apparently not considered to be a very generous amount:Richard Northalis, Lord Chancellor 1393–97, complained that it did not cover even a third of his expenses, and asked for an extra payment of twenty pounds a year. In his case, it is thought that the hostility of his colleagues in government was responsible for the poor salary.
In the earlier centuries, the Lord Chancellor was always acleric, and usually an Englishman. Lay Chancellors became common after theReformation, and no cleric was appointed Chancellor after 1665, but although there were a number of exceptions, the Crown retained a preference for English-born Chancellors until the mid-nineteenth century.
Stephen Ridell. Appointed in1186.[3] (first Chancellor). Came to Ireland in the entourage of the future KingJohn, and was then referred to as "his Chancellor".
Ralph de Norwich (1249-1256). He was electedArchbishop of Dublin in 1256, but his election was quashed by the Pope, on the grounds of his "secular" lifestyle and closeness to KingHenry III. He surrendered theGreat Seal of Ireland in 1356, returned to England and became a judge there.
John Tiptoft, 1st Earl of Worcester (1462–1463). By decree ofEdward 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 functions 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 functions until his death in 1478.[13]
^"The History and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathedral Church of St. Patrick Near Dublin, from its Foundation in 1190, to the Year 1819: Comprising a Topographical Account of the Lands and Parishes Appropriated to the Community of the Cathedral, and to Its Members, and Biographical Memoirs of Its Deans" Mason, W.M. p122:Dublin, W.Folds, 1820
