Francis Hardy (Irish politician) facts for kids
Francis Hardy (born 1751, died 1812) was an important person in Irish history. He was an Irish lawyer, a politician, and someone who wrote biographies (life stories of others).
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Life of Francis Hardy
Francis Hardy went to Trinity College, Dublin, a famous university, and finished his studies in 1771. A few years later, in 1777, he became a barrister. This means he was a lawyer who could argue cases in higher courts.
Hardy's Political Career
Hardy was a close friend and partner of Henry Grattan, another well-known Irish politician. In 1783, with help from the Earl of Granard, Hardy became a member of the Parliament of Ireland. He represented the area of Mullingar.
Hardy served as a representative for Mullingar from 1783 until 1800 or 1801. This was when Ireland joined with Great Britain. He was a very good speaker, but he usually only spoke during the most important debates.
Standing Up for Ireland
Even though Francis Hardy didn't have a lot of money, he refused offers from the government. They wanted him to vote for the Acts of Union. These acts would have joined Ireland completely with Great Britain. Hardy believed in Ireland's independence, so he said no to the money.
After Ireland joined with Great Britain, Hardy left politics. He moved to the countryside and spent a lot of time with his friend Henry Grattan and his family. In 1806, he was given a job as a commissioner of appeals in Dublin. This meant he helped review legal decisions.
Francis Hardy passed away on July 26, 1812. He was buried in Kilcommon, which is in County Wicklow.
Francis Hardy's Writings
Francis Hardy helped to create the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin in 1786. This academy is a special place for learning about science, literature, and antiquities (old things). In 1788, he wrote an essay for the academy about parts of a famous Greek play called Agamemnon.
Writing a Biography
After his friend Lord Charlemont died in 1799, Hardy decided to publish some of Charlemont's writings. Later, a friend named Richard Lovell Edgeworth suggested that Hardy write a full biography of Lord Charlemont.
Hardy got help from Charlemont's family and Henry Grattan to write the book. It was published in London in 1810. The book was called Memoirs of the Political and Private Life of James Caulfield, Earl of Charlemont, Knight of St. Patrick. While it was a very important book, some parts of it were not completely accurate. A new version of the book came out in 1812.
