Audley Mervyn facts for kids
Sir Audley Mervyn (born around 1603, died 1675) was an important lawyer and politician in Ireland during the 1600s. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for County Tyrone and served as the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons from 1661 to 1666.
Audley Mervyn was the second son of Sir Henry Mervyn. His mother, Lady Christian Tuchet, was related to the Earl of Castlehaven.
Early Life and Politics
Audley Mervyn studied at Christ Church, Oxford. He later moved to Ireland, where his relatives, the Castlehavens, owned a lot of land. He also became a significant landowner himself, mostly in County Tyrone.
By 1640, he was a captain in the army. In the same year, he was elected as an MP for County Tyrone. In 1641, he became well-known for challenging powerful figures in the Irish House of Commons. He presented serious accusations against Sir Richard Bolton, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and other close friends of Thomas Wentworth, 1st Earl of Strafford. Strafford was a very powerful leader who was seen as unfair by many. Mervyn helped carry a strong complaint from the Irish Parliament to the English Parliament, saying that Strafford's rule in Ireland was like a tyranny.
Between 1641 and 1661, Mervyn served in the army and rose to the rank of colonel. In 1644, he was made Governor of Londonderry. His activities during the 1650s are not fully clear. At one point, he was arrested and sent to England, but he was soon allowed to return to Ulster. He decided to pursue a legal career and joined the King's Inn in 1658.
Return of the King
In 1660, after the King returned to power, Audley Mervyn was one of twelve people sent from Tyrone to meet with King Charles II. He was made a knight and given the important job of Prime Serjeant, which was the most senior legal position in Ireland.
However, the Lord Lieutenant, Ormonde, did not fully trust Mervyn. Ormonde preferred to get advice from the Attorney General for Ireland, Sir William Domville. Because of this, Mervyn's role as a top legal advisor to the King slowly became less important. From then on, the Attorney General of Ireland was always seen as the most senior law officer.
In May 1661, Mervyn was chosen as Speaker of the House of Commons again for Tyrone. This was against the King's wishes, as the King would have preferred William Domville. People said that Mervyn's fellow MPs chose him because he was a very good speaker. His speeches were admired for their style, often including quotes from the Bible and famous old writers.
Soon after, he went to England for nine months to help with talks about the Act of Settlement 1662. This act was important for deciding who owned land in Ireland. When he returned, he played a big role in the House of Commons. He was also involved in a special court that dealt with land claims under the Act of Settlement. This led to some people accusing him of using his position unfairly. He remained Speaker until Parliament was dissolved in 1666, even though the King was not happy with him. He continued his legal work, but not much is known about his later years.
Family Life
Sir Audley Mervyn was married twice.
- His first marriage was in 1638 to Mary Dillon.
- His second marriage was to Martha Clotworthy, who was the sister of a well-known politician, John Clotworthy, 1st Viscount Massereene.
Through his marriages, he had at least three sons, including Henry, Hugh, and Guy, and two daughters. His main home was Trillick Castle in County Tyrone. This castle stayed in the Mervyn family for many generations.
Reputation
People had different opinions about Sir Audley Mervyn, both during his lifetime and after. He was often accused of not always being fair or honest, and of putting his own interests first instead of following principles.
