Francis Spring (Irish MP) facts for kids

Francis Spring (born around 1660 – died in 1711) was an important Anglo-Irish politician. He helped make decisions for his community in Ireland during his time.

Who Was Francis Spring?

Francis Spring came from an important family. He was the great-grandson of Thomas Spring of Castlemaine. This means his family had been involved in public life for a long time.

Early Public Service

In 1699, Francis Spring started his public service. He became a Commissioner for collecting taxes in County Kildare. A Commissioner is like a special helper who makes sure rules are followed. In this case, he helped make sure people paid their taxes fairly. Taxes are money people pay to the government to help run the country.

Serving in Parliament

From 1703 until he passed away in 1711, Francis Spring was a Member of Parliament. He represented a place called Naas. This meant he was chosen by the people of Naas to speak for them. He worked in the Irish House of Commons. The House of Commons was like a big meeting place where elected people discussed laws. They made decisions for all of Ireland. Being a Member of Parliament was a very important job. It meant he helped create the rules for the country.

High Sheriff of Kildare

In 1709, Francis Spring took on another big role. He became the High Sheriff of Kildare. A High Sheriff was a very important official in a county. They were in charge of keeping the peace and making sure laws were followed. They also helped with legal matters in the county. It was a job that showed he was trusted and respected in his community.

Standing Up for His County

Francis Spring was not afraid to speak up. On November 18, 1703, he and other Members of Parliament from Kildare presented a special request. This request is called a petition. They gave it to the House of Commons. They wanted to talk about some issues with two local officials. These officials were named John and Francis Annesley. They were Justices of the Peace in the county. A Justice of the Peace helps keep order and deals with small legal problems. Francis Spring and his fellow MPs wanted to make sure everything was fair for the people of Kildare. This shows he cared about his community. He worked hard to make sure things were done correctly.