Lord Chancellor of Ireland

The 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 the end of 1800, 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.

There is a good deal of confusion as to precisely when the office originated. Until the reign of Henry 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 separate Court 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 sixty marks a year, equivalent to forty pounds 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 a cleric, and usually an Englishman. Lay Chancellors became common after the Reformation, 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 in 1186.^[3] (first Chancellor). Came to Ireland in the entourage of the future King John, and was then referred to as "his Chancellor".

• 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, Bishop of Ossory (1237)
• Ralph de Norwich (1237–1238), same as below
• Robert Luttrell (1238–1245), Archdeacon of Armagh and Treasurer of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
• William Welwood (1245–1246)
• Ralph de Norwich (1249-1256). He was elected Archbishop of Dublin in 1256, but his election was quashed by the Pope, on the grounds of his "secular" lifestyle and closeness to King Henry III. He surrendered the Great Seal of Ireland in 1356, returned to England and became a judge there.
• Fromund Le Brun (1259–1283). He was elected Archbishop of Dublin, but his election was contested by William de la Corner: the conflict lasted from 1271 to 1279. Pope Nicholas III declared both elections void in 1279, and appointed John de Derlington instead.^[3]
• Walter de Fulburn, Bishop of Waterford (1283–1288).
• William de Beverley, or Le Buerlaco (1288–1292).
• Thomas Cantock, Bishop of Emly (1292–1294).
• Adam de Wodington. Appointed in 1294.

• Thomas Cantock, Bishop of Emly (1306–1308). The same as the above.
• Adam de Wodington (1308). The same as above.
• Richard de Beresford. Deputy in 1307, Chancellor in 1308
• Walter de Thornbury, died 1313: while he was travelling to Avignon to secure his election as Archbishop of Dublin, his ship was sunk in a storm and he drowned.
• Stephen Riddel (c. 1313–1318).
• William FitzJohn, Bishop of Ossory (1318– 1320). Later Archbishop of Cashel.
• Roger Utlagh, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Kilmainham. Appointed in 1321.
• Adam de Lymbergh (1330–1334)^[4]
• William, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Kilmainham (?1331–)^[4]
• Alexander de Bicknor, Primate of Ireland (c. 1335 – ?1337)
• Thomas Charlton, Bishop of Hereford (1337–1338).^[5]
• Robert de Hemmingburgh (1338–)^[4]
• Robert de Askeby (1340–)^[4]
• John L'Archers, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem. Appointed in 1343.
• John Morice. c. 1344-1349^[6]
• William de Bromley, Dean of St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin (1346-1350)^[7]
• John de St Paul, Archbishop of Dublin (1350–1356)^[8]
• Richard d'Askeaton (1356)^[4]
• 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 (1367-1368)
• Thomas de Burley, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1368–1371), second term.
• John de Bothby (1371–1374)
• William Tany, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1374–1377).^[9]
  • John Keppock, Lord Keeper in the absence of William Tany to Jerusalem
• Robert Wikeford or de Wikeford, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland (1377–1379)
• John Colton, Dean of St. Patrick's Cathedral(1379–1382). Later Archbishop of Armagh.^[10]
• William Tany, Prior of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem (1382–1385). The same as above.^[9]
• Ralph Cheyne (1383-4)
• Alexander de Balscot, Bishop of Ossory (1385–1388).^[11]
• Robert Preston, 1st Baron Gormanston 1388
• Richard Plunkett (1388–1393)
• Richard Northalis, Bishop of Ossory (1393–1397). Also Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland from 1395 to his death.
• Robert Braybrooke, Bishop of London (1397)

• Thomas Cranley, Primate of Ireland (1401–1410)^[11]
  • Sir Laurence Merbury, Deputy Chancellor (1403–1410), who exercised the duties of Chancellor while Cranley was too ill to do so.^[11]
  • Thomas de Everdon, acted regularly as Deputy, and was briefly named as Chancellor in 1402.
  • Roger Hawkenshaw, acted as Deputy for Cranley in 1416, when he was again incapacitated by illness.
• Patrick Barrett, Bishop of Ferns (1410–1412)^[11]
• 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)^[11]
• Sir Laurence Merbury (1417) (second term)^[11]
• William Fitz Thomas, Prior of Kilmainham (c. 1417–1418)^[11]
• William Yonge, or Young, Archdeacon of Meath (c. 1418–1419)^[11]
• Richard Talbot, Primate of Ireland (1423–1426)^[11]
• William Fitz Thomas (1426) (second term)^[11]
• Sir Richard FitzEustace (1426)^[11]
• Richard Talbot, Primate of Ireland (1426–1441)
• Thomas Chase (1441–1446)^[11]
• Richard Wogan (1446–1449), Lord Chancellor^[11]
  • 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.^[11]
  • Edmund Oldhall (1451–1454), Bishop of Meath, Deputy Chancellor, who exercised the duties of the office of Chancellor since Rutland was underage
  • John Talbot, later 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury (1454–1460). Deputy Chancellor, exercised the duties of the office.
• John Dynham (1460–1461), Lord Chancellor^[11]
  • Sir Robert Preston, 1st Viscount Gormanston, Deputy Chancellor
• Sir William Welles (1461–1462)^[12]
• 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 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]
• Robert Allanstown (1468–1469)
• William Dudley (1469–1472)
• Joint Lord Chancellors of Ireland (1472–1477)
  • Robert FitzEustace
  • John Tapton
• Gilbert Debenham (1474)
• Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester (1474–1479)^[14]
• William Sherwood, Bishop of Meath (1480–1482)^[15]
• Walter Champfleur, Abbot of St Mary's Abbey, Dublin (Lord Keeper, or by some accounts Lord

Chancellor 1479 and 1482-1483)^[16]

• Robert St Lawrence, 3rd Baron Howth (May 1483, but probably died a few months later)^[17]
• Sir Thomas FitzGerald of Laccagh (c.1483 – 1487)
• Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester (1487–1492). The same as above.^[14]
• Alexander Plunket (1492–1494)
• Henry Deane, later Archbishop of Canterbury (1494–1495)
• Walter Fitzsimon, Primate of Ireland (1496–1511)

• 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)^[18]
• Sir Richard Reade (6 December 1546 – 1548)
• Sir John Alan (1548–1551)
• Sir Thomas Cusack (1551–1554)^[18]
• 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, Dean of the Arches (1567–1573)
• Archbishop Adam Loftus (Lord Keeper) (1573–1576)^[19]
• Sir William Gerard (1576–1581)
• Archbishop Adam Loftus (1581–1605) the same as the above.^[19]

• 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)
  • Sir William Jones LCJ
  • Sir William Methold LCB
  • Sir Francis Aungier MR
• The Viscount Loftus (1619–1639)^[20]
• Sir Richard Bolton (1639 – November 1648)
• Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (14 June 1655−1656)^[21]
  • 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)^[22]
• 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)
  • Sir John Jeffreyson
  • Thomas Coote
  • Nehemiah Donnellan
• John Methuen (11 March 1697 – 1703)

• Sir Richard Cox (1703–1707)
• Richard Freeman (11 June 1707 – 1710)
• Commissioners of the Great Seal of Ireland (1710–1)
  • The Earl of Kildare
  • Archbishop William King
  • Thomas Keightley
• Sir Constantine Henry Phipps (22 January 1711 – September 1714)^[23]
• The Viscount Midleton (11 October 1714 – 1725)
• Richard West (29 May 1725 – 1726)^[24]
• The Lord Wyndham (13 December 1726 – 1739)^[24]
• The Viscount Jocelyn (7 September 1739 – 3 December 1756)^[25]
• 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)
  • Archbishop Robert Fowler
  • Hugh Carleton LCJCP
  • Sir Samuel Bradstreet
• The Earl of Clare (20 June 1789 – 28 January 1802) (sitting Attorney-General)

• 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)^[26]
• Francis Blackburne (1852) (Attorney-General 1831-34 and 1841–42)
• Maziere Brady (1852–1858) (see above)^[27]
• Sir Joseph Napier (1858–1859) (Attorney-General, 1852)
• Maziere Brady (1859–1866) (see above)^[27]
• Francis Blackburne (1866–1867) (see above)
• Abraham Brewster (Attorney-General, 1853–55) (1867–1868)
• The Lord O'Hagan (1868–1874)^[28] (Attorney-General, 1861-65)
• 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)^[28]
• The Lord O'Hagan (1880–1881) (see above)^[28]
• Hugh Law (1881–1883) (sitting Attorney-General)^[28]
• Sir Edward Sullivan (1883–1885) (Attorney-General, 1868)^[28]
• John Naish (1885) (sitting Attorney-General)^[28]
• The Lord Ashbourne (1885–1886) (Attorney-General, 1877–80)^[29]
• John Naish (1886) (see above)^[28]
• The Lord Ashbourne (1886–1892) (see above)^[30]
• Samuel Walker (1892–1895) (Attorney-General, February–August 1886)^[28]
• The Lord Ashbourne (29 June 1895 – 1905) (see above)^[30]

• Ball, F. Elrington (1926). The Judges in Ireland, 1221–1921. The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd. ISBN 9781584774280.
• O'Flanagan, J. Roderick (1870). "The Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of Ireland – from the earliest times to the reign of Queen Victoria". Retrieved 9 February 2023. Volume II
• Smyth, Constantine J. (1839). Chronicle of the law officers of Ireland . London: Henry Butterworth.