Bernard Hale facts for kids

Sir Bernard Hale (1677–1729) was an important English lawyer and judge. He became the top judge in a special court in Ireland called the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Two of his sons grew up to become Generals in the British Army.

Early Life and Education

Bernard Hale was born in a place called King's Walden in England. He was the eighth son in his family. His family, the Hales, had become very rich as grocers in London. They had owned their family home in King's Walden since the 1500s. Even many years later, Bernard's own family members still lived there.

Bernard went to two famous schools: Eton College and Peterhouse, Cambridge University. His grand-uncle, who was also named Bernard Hale, had been in charge of Peterhouse in the 1660s. Bernard studied hard and became a fellow at Peterhouse.

In 1699, he joined Gray's Inn, which is a place where lawyers train. He officially became a lawyer in 1705. He was very good at his job and became one of the most successful and highest-earning lawyers in England. Later, he moved to another important legal society called Lincoln's Inn.

Sir Bernard's Family

Bernard Hale married Anne Thoresby. They had seven children together:

• William Hale (who died in 1793). He married Elizabeth Farnaby and they had four children.
• Richard Hale (who died in 1812).
• General Bernard Hale (who died in 1798). He became a General in the army.
• General John Hale (who died in 1806). He also became a General and was the Governor of Londonderry in Ireland. He married a very beautiful woman named Mary Chaloner. She was so famous for her looks that a well-known artist, Joshua Reynolds, painted her picture. John and Mary had an amazing twenty-one children! Most of them grew up to be adults.
• Catherine Hale, who married Thomas Nugent.
• Jane Hale (who died in 1794). She married Reverend Martin Madan, a clergyman. They had five children. A famous artist named Allan Ramsay painted her portrait.
• Anne Hale, who never married.

Working as a Judge in Ireland

In 1722, Bernard Hale was given a very important job in Ireland. He became the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. This meant he was the head judge in a special court that dealt with money matters.

Even though some people in Dublin were not happy about him at first, he quickly earned a great reputation. People respected him for being honest and doing his job well.

In 1725, something scary happened while he was working. He and another judge, Sir John St Leger, were holding court in Monaghan, Ireland. The courthouse roof, which was in very bad condition, suddenly fell in! Luckily, it just missed the judges, and they were not hurt. Sir Bernard Hale simply moved the court proceedings outside the building and kept working.

Later that same year, there were rumors that he might get an even bigger job in Ireland. He was offered the position of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, which is a very high judicial role. However, his friends and colleagues in England told him to turn it down. They thought he would soon be offered a job as a judge back in England.

Bernard Hale admitted that the Irish job was tempting. But he really wanted to go back to England. Even though he had been happy in Ireland, he said, "it is impossible for me to forget England or not to wish to return there."

Returning to England

In the autumn of 1725, Bernard Hale moved back to England. He became a Baron of the Exchequer there, which was a similar type of judge. To qualify for this job, he was made a Serjeant-at-law (a special type of senior lawyer). He also received a knighthood, so he became "Sir Bernard Hale."

Sir Bernard Hale passed away in London in 1729. He was buried in the church at his family home in King's Walden.

Arms

Images for kids

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  Bernard Hale, Archdeacon of Ely, the judge's grand-uncle

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  Chief Baron Hale's youngest son John Hale, Governor of Londonderry, painted by Joshua Reynolds

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  Bernard's daughter-in-law Mary Chaloner, wife of John Hale, painted by Joshua Reynolds