Abraham Brewster facts for kids
Abraham Brewster (born April 1796 – died 26 July 1874) was an important Irish judge. He also held a very high position called Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which meant he was the head of the legal system in Ireland. He was also a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, a group of advisors to the ruler.
Early Life and Schooling
Abraham Brewster was born in a place called Ballinulta, in County Wicklow, Ireland. His father was William Bagenal Brewster.
He went to school at Kilkenny College. After that, he studied at Trinity College Dublin starting in 1812. He earned his first degree, a B.A., in 1817. Years later, in 1847, he also earned his M.A. degree.
Becoming a Lawyer and Judge
Abraham Brewster became a lawyer in Ireland in 1819. He quickly became known as a very good lawyer and a powerful speaker. He worked in the Leinster area.
In 1835, he was given a special title called "silk gown," which meant he was a very senior lawyer. Even though some people like Daniel O'Connell didn't like him, Brewster was appointed as a legal advisor to the leader of Ireland in 1841.
He then served as the Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1846 to 1846. Later, he became the Attorney-General for Ireland from 1853 to 1855. These roles meant he was a top legal officer for the government.
After leaving these government roles, Brewster continued to be very busy as a lawyer. He was involved in many important court cases. Some of these famous cases included:
- The Mountgarrett case in 1854, which was about a noble title and a large estate.
- The Carden abduction case in the same year.
- The Yelverton case in 1861.
- The Egmont will case in 1863.
- A case involving the Marquess of Donegall about land ownership.
- The Fitzgerald v. Fitzgerald will case, where his presentation was considered one of his best.
In 1866, Abraham Brewster became the Lord Justice of Appeal in Ireland. Then, in March 1867, he reached the highest legal position: Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He held this important job until December 1868, when the government changed. After that, he retired from public life.
People respected Brewster for his calm but firm way of handling court cases. Even other judges who were often critical thought highly of him.
His Family Life
Abraham Brewster passed away at his home in Dublin on 26 July 1874. He was buried in Tullow, County Carlow.
He married Mary Ann Gray in 1819. They had one son, Colonel William Bagenal Brewster, and one daughter, Elizabeth Mary. Sadly, both of his children passed away before him.
His nephew, Edward Brewster, also became a lawyer and politician in Australia. Edward's brother, John Grey Brewster, also moved to Australia and became a successful businessman.
