Anthony Richard Blake facts for kids

Anthony Richard Blake (1786–1849) was an important Irish lawyer and government official. He was sometimes called the 'backstairs Viceroy of Ireland' because he had a lot of influence behind the scenes. He helped the British government understand and work with Irish Catholic people.

Who Was Anthony Blake?

Anthony Blake was born in 1786. He was the second son of Martin Blake from Holly Park, Athenry. His family was part of the "Tribes of Galway," which were powerful merchant families. His great-uncle, also named Anthony Blake, was an Archbishop.

Early Life and Career

In 1808, Anthony Blake began studying law in London. He became a student of Charles Butler, a well-known lawyer. Blake helped Butler gather information about Irish Catholic issues. Because of this work, Butler suggested Blake become a press officer for the Catholic committee. In 1813, Blake officially became a lawyer.

Working for Ireland

In 1821, Blake went to Ireland with Lord Wellesley, a high-ranking official. Two years later, in 1823, Blake got a very important job. He became the Chief Remembrancer of the Irish Exchequer. This made him the first Catholic person to hold this job since the Reformation.

This role was very important. It allowed him to advise British ministers on Irish affairs. He was also a key link between the government and Irish Catholic groups. An Act of Parliament gave him a yearly income of £3,000 Irish pounds. In 1843, this amount was changed to £2,000.

Helping with Education

In 1824, Anthony Blake was chosen for a Royal Commission. This group looked into how education was provided in Ireland. He worked with other commissioners like Thomas Frankland Lewis and William Grant.

Blake generally got along with Daniel O'Connell, a famous Irish leader. However, O'Connell sometimes said the government used Blake just to show they had a Catholic person in power. Some of Blake's Catholic opponents thought he was too ambitious. They believed his interests were not always good for the church.

Ideas for Ireland

In 1828, Blake wrote a book called "Thoughts upon the catholic question, by an Irish Roman Catholic." In this book, he looked at the problems in Ireland. He also made several suggestions to the British government:

• Make an agreement with the Vatican (the head of the Catholic Church).
• Try to meet the demands of Irish Catholics.
• Provide help for poor people.
• Allow more people to vote.

Later Work and Legacy

In 1831, Blake was part of Lord Anglesey's special group. He helped create a plan for national education in Ireland. He especially supported training for teachers. He also served on a committee in 1833 that looked into laws for the poor. He worked on committees dealing with taxes, education, and property laws.

In the late 1840s, Blake also helped set up the Queen's Colleges. These colleges were a big topic of debate among Irish Catholics.

Anthony Blake passed away in January 1849. He left a large amount of money to the national education system. This showed his lasting commitment to improving education in Ireland.