Francis Bernard (judge) facts for kids

Francis Bernard (born 1663, died 1731) was an important Irish lawyer, politician, and judge. He was known for his strong political views. Bernard served in the Irish Parliament for many years. He also held high legal positions in Ireland.

Who Was Francis Bernard?

Francis Bernard was born in 1663. His father was also named Francis Bernard. His family lived at Castle Mahon in Ireland. His mother was Mary Freke. She came from a well-known family.

His Path in Law and Politics

Francis Bernard became a lawyer. He was a very skilled one. He was called a "Serjeant-at-law." This was a high legal title. He also became a politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP). This means he was part of the Irish House of Commons.

Bernard represented two areas in Parliament. He was the MP for Clonakilty from 1692 to 1695. Then he represented Bandonbridge from 1695 to 1727. He was known as a "furious Tory." This meant he had very strong conservative political ideas.

He held several important jobs. From 1692, he was the Recorder of Kinsale. This was a legal role in the town of Kinsale. Later, he became the Solicitor-General for Ireland in 1711. He held this job until 1714. In 1724, he became the Prime Serjeant. This was the highest rank for a Serjeant-at-law.

Two years later, in 1726, he became a judge. He joined the Irish Court of Common Pleas. This was a big achievement. He became a judge even though his political ideas were not popular at the time.

His Family Life

In 1693, Francis Bernard married Alice Ludlow. Her father, Stephen Ludlow, was also an MP. Alice's family lived in Ardsallagh, County Meath. Alice's mother was Alice Lachard from Wales.

Francis and Alice had seven children. They had six sons and one daughter. Their daughter was Elizabeth. She was born in 1703 and died in 1743. Elizabeth married two times. Her first husband was James Caulfeild, the 3rd Viscount Charlemont. Her second husband was Thomas Adderley.

One of Francis Bernard's grandsons was James. James inherited the family home, Castle Bernard. This was because his uncle Francis junior had no children. James was the ancestor of the Earls of Bandon. Another famous grandson was James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont. He was a leading statesman.

Later Life and Legacy

Francis Bernard died suddenly on June 30, 1731. He was almost seventy years old. He seemed to be in good health. He had been working in court the day before he passed away. He was found dead in his bed. His wife, Alice, lived longer than him. She died in 1741.

After his death, someone wrote a poem about him. It praised him greatly. It called him a "rock of the law and nature's pride." The poem also suggested that he died because he worked too hard.