James Barry, 1st Baron Barry of Santry facts for kids

James Barry (1603–1673) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He was also a 'peer,' which means he held a special noble title called a Baron. He was known as the 1st Baron Barry of Santry.

Early Life and Family

James Barry came from a wealthy family in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Richard Barry, and both his grandfathers were successful merchants. His grandfather, James Barry, was the Sheriff of Dublin City, a local official. His father even became the Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1610 to 1611. He also represented Dublin in the Irish House of Commons, which was like a parliament. James's maternal grandfather, John Cusacke, was also a Mayor of Dublin.

James Barry married Catharine Parsons. Together, they had four sons and four daughters. Their son Richard later inherited his father's title. James had a close relationship with his sister Anne. She married James Donnellan, who later became a very important judge called the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.

Education and Studies

James Barry was a bright student. He studied at Trinity College, Dublin, a famous university in Ireland. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in 1621. A few years later, in 1624, he also received his Master of Arts (M.A.) degree from the same college.

Legal and Political Career

After his university studies, James Barry decided to become a lawyer. In 1621, he joined Lincoln's Inn in London, which is a place where lawyers train. By 1628, he was working as a barrister, a type of lawyer who argues cases in court.

He quickly gained important roles:

• He became the Recorder of Dublin, a judge who oversees legal matters in the city.
• In 1629, he was appointed Prime Sergeant, a senior legal advisor to the Crown.
• He also joined King's Inn in 1630, another important legal society, and served as its treasurer twice.

In 1634, James Barry became a Member of Parliament for Lismore. This meant he helped make laws for Ireland.

Important Judicial Roles

Through the influence of Lord Wentworth, a powerful figure, James Barry became the second Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1634. This was a high position in the Irish legal system.

In 1637, he wrote an important book called The Case of Tenures upon the Commission of Defective Titles. This book discussed a key legal case about land ownership, which was very important for the King at the time.

Loyalty to the King

James Barry was very loyal to the King. In 1640, he tried to stop members of the Irish Parliament from sending a group to England to accuse the Earl of Strafford (Lord Wentworth) of wrongdoing.

After many years, in 1659, James Barry became the chairman of a group called the Royalist Convention in Dublin. This group openly supported the return of King Charles II to the throne.

Because of his strong loyalty to both King Charles I and King Charles II, James Barry received more honors. In 1660, he became the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland, the highest judge in Ireland. He also became a Privy Counsellor, advising the King.

He was also appointed to help carry out the King's Declaration, which led to the Act of Settlement 1662. This act dealt with land ownership in Ireland after a period of conflict.

Becoming a Baron

On February 18, 1661, James Barry was given a special noble title. He was created the 1st Baron Barry of Santry, a place in County Dublin. This meant he became a member of the nobility and could sit in the Irish House of Lords. His home was in Santry.

Later Life and Death

James Barry passed away on February 9, 1673. He was buried a few days later at St. Mary's Chapel in Christchurch Cathedral, Dublin. His eldest son, Richard, then became the second Baron Barry.