Edmond Stanley facts for kids

Sir Edmond Stanley (1760–1843) was an important lawyer and politician from Ireland. He held several big jobs, like being a top lawyer in the Parliament of Ireland and later a Chief Justice in Madras, India. His career faced challenges because he owed a lot of money.

About Sir Edmond Stanley's Life

Sir Edmond Stanley was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1760. His father, James Stanley, was also a lawyer. Edmond went to Trinity College Dublin when he was just thirteen years old. He studied hard and became a scholar, graduating in 1778. After college, he studied law at the King's Inns in Ireland and the Inner Temple in London, becoming a lawyer.

In 1786, he married Jane Talbot. They had one daughter named Mary Anne. In 1815, Mary Anne married Captain Edward Trant Bontein. This marriage caused some talk because Mary Anne was only 14 and Captain Bontein was 29. They decided to run away to Gretna Green in Scotland to get married.

His Work in Politics

Sir Edmond Stanley became a member of the Parliament of Ireland. He represented areas like Augher (from 1790 to 1797) and Lanesborough (from 1797 to 1800). He worked alongside other well-known politicians during this time.

He also held important legal roles in the government, like being a "Serjeant-at-Law." He was the Third Serjeant from 1793, and later the Prime Serjeant from 1801 to 1802. He had to leave this job in 1802. Although he thought his political rivals were to blame, he actually resigned because he owed a lot of money. It was hard for him to even be in Dublin without worrying about his debts. Because of these money problems, he sold his family's land in County Roscommon and moved to London. Later, he managed to improve his finances and bought an estate in Pembrokeshire, Wales.

He also served as a Commissioner of Appeals and Commissioner of Accounts. He supported the government's decisions, including voting for the Act of Union 1800. This Act joined the Irish Parliament with the British Parliament, meaning Ireland would be governed directly from London. In 1798, he was sent to Cork to oversee important trials after the 1798 Rising, a major rebellion in Ireland. He was given the title of Knight in 1807, which meant he could be called "Sir."

Becoming a Judge Overseas

In 1807, the British Crown set up a proper court system in Prince of Wales Island, which is now known as Penang in Malaysia. This led to the appointment of the first Supreme Court judge, called the 'Recorder.' Sir Edmond Stanley became the First Recorder of the Supreme Court of Penang in 1808. He is still remembered and honored by the lawyers in Penang today. At the same time, Stamford Raffles, who later founded Singapore, was the first registrar of this court. The Supreme Court of Penang opened its doors on May 31, 1808, at Fort Cornwallis.

Sir Edmond left Penang in December 1816. He was transferred to the Madras Presidency in India in 1817, where he became a judge. He was then appointed the Chief Justice of the Madras Supreme Court on May 17, 1820. This was a very important position.

Later Life and Retirement

Sir Edmond Stanley served as Chief Justice until he retired on January 28, 1825. He then moved back to England. He passed away in Richmond, London, in 1843. He was buried next to his wife in the Kensal Green Cemetery. He left his property to his daughter, Mary Anne Bontein, with the condition that she and her sons would take the name Stanley. Mary Anne died in Brussels, Belgium, in 1881.