Geoffrey Osbaldeston facts for kids
Geoffrey Osbaldeston (1558-c.1635) was an English politician and judge who worked in Ireland for many years. He had a long career, but he was not widely known for his achievements.
Early Life and Education
Geoffrey Osbaldeston was born in England in 1558. He was the third son of Edward Osbaldeston, who came from a well-known family in Lancashire. His mother was Maud Halsall. Geoffrey's family, the Osbaldestons, were connected to the Stanley family, who were powerful nobles known as the Earls of Derby. It seems that Geoffrey's father got ahead in life because of the support and help from these important connections.
Geoffrey went to St Mary Hall, Oxford for his education. In 1577, he joined Gray's Inn, which was a famous school for lawyers in London. By 1593, he had become an "Ancient of the Inn." This was a senior position for someone studying or practicing law there. Later, in 1597 and 1598, Geoffrey became a member of the House of Commons of England. This was a part of the English Parliament, where he represented the area of Newton.
Career in Ireland
In 1601, a very important person named Alice, Countess of Derby, helped Geoffrey. She was his "patroness," meaning she used her influence to support his career. She worked hard to get him an official job in Ireland.
By 1605, Geoffrey was sent to Ireland to work as a judge in the Court of King's Bench (Ireland). He wasn't the first person the King wanted for the job. He was chosen at the last minute because the first choice, Lewis Prowde, couldn't take the position due to being very sick. Some people thought that Geoffrey's appointment was a step down for him, meaning it wasn't a very impressive job for someone with his background. They believed this was because he wasn't considered a very skilled lawyer.
Despite this, Geoffrey served on several special groups set up by the King. These groups were called "Crown commissions" and they helped the government with different tasks. In 1626, he wrote a report about the city of Galway City. He retired from his work in 1634. We don't know the exact date he passed away.
Family Life
Geoffrey Osbaldeston married Lucy (also known as Louisa) Warren. She was the youngest daughter of John Warren from Poynton in Cheshire. Geoffrey and Lucy had three children. Through their daughter Deborah, Geoffrey became an ancestor of the important Lyster family, who lived in County Roscommon in Ireland. Geoffrey also had a cousin named Richard Osbaldeston, who later became the Attorney General for Ireland.
