Henry Echlin facts for kids
Sir Henry Echlin (1652–1725) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He also loved books very much. He was the very first person in his family to be given the special title of Baronet, which is a bit like a knight but can be passed down through the family. His family's title was the Echlin Baronets of Clonagh, in County Kildare.
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Early Life and Education
Henry Echlin was born in 1652 in a place called Ardquin, in County Down. His family, the Echlins, had moved to Ireland from Scotland in the early 1600s. His great-grandfather was a bishop named Robert Echlin. A bishop is a high-ranking church leader. Henry's mother, Mary Leslie, also came from a family of bishops. Her father, Henry Leslie, was a bishop too.
Henry's father passed away when Henry and his brothers were young. This left the family with some money problems. However, their situation got better when his mother married Robert Ward. Robert Ward was a respected man who later became a Baronet himself.
Henry had two brothers. His older brother, John, had a son who became a Member of Parliament (MP). His younger brother was Robert Echlin, a general in the army. Robert later went to live in France and supported King James II.
To help his family, Henry started working in the courts as a clerk when he was still a teenager. At the same time, he studied at Trinity College Dublin. He started there in 1667 and earned his Master of Arts degree in 1703. He first worked as an attorney, which is a type of lawyer. Later, he joined important legal societies in London and Dublin to become a barrister.
Becoming a King's Serjeant
In 1683, when Henry was just over 30, he was given a big job. He became the Third Serjeant-at-law. This was a very senior legal position in Ireland. People were surprised because he had only been working as a barrister for six years.
His appointment was largely due to the influence of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, James Butler, who was also the Duke of Ormonde. The Solicitor General for Ireland, Sir John Temple, also supported Henry. Temple said that Henry was "very studious and industrious" in his work.
Henry became the Second Serjeant in 1687. However, he was removed from this job later that same year. This happened because King James II of England wanted to appoint more Roman Catholics to important legal roles.
Life as a Judge
During a time of big political change in England, known as the Glorious Revolution, Henry took his family to England to keep them safe. He returned to Ireland in 1690 and was appointed as a judge in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland). He later moved to the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) before returning to the Exchequer court.
Henry often went to the Irish House of Lords to give legal advice. In 1692, he was knighted, which means he received the title "Sir." He also served on a group that looked into the properties of people who had supported King James II and fled to France.
In 1713 and 1714, there was a disagreement between the government in Dublin Castle and the city council, known as Dublin Corporation. Henry and other judges signed reports about this issue. Years later, he admitted that he didn't know much about the details. He said he signed the reports because he was afraid of losing his job if he refused.
Later Years and Family
Henry Echlin was made a Baronet in 1721. He passed away in 1725.
He married Agnes Mussen, and they had three sons and one daughter. His oldest son, Robert, died before him in 1706. Robert had married Penelope Eustace. When Henry died, the Baronet title passed to Robert's son, who became Sir Robert Echlin, the 2nd Baronet. Another one of Henry's sons, also named Henry, became a clergyman.
The main home for the Echlin family was Kenure House in Rush, County Dublin. This house used to belong to the Duke of Ormonde. Sadly, most of Kenure House was taken down in 1978, and only a few parts remain today. Henry also owned Clonagh Castle in Kildare and a house in Dublin.
A Lover of Books
Henry Echlin was known for his great love of books. A writer and bookseller named John Dunton met him in 1698. Dunton wrote that Baron Echlin was a person of "great honour" and loved books so much that he would buy almost any book, no matter the cost. He had a very large and interesting library. Dunton also said that Henry was always looking for rare books, even though he already had so many.
