James Whiteside facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Whiteside
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Statue of James Whiteside by Albert Bruce-Joy in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
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| Lord Chief Justice of Ireland | |
| In office 1866–1876 |
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| Monarch | Queen Victoria |
| Prime Minister | Earl of Derby Benjamin Disraeli |
| Attorney-General for Ireland | |
| In office 1858–1859 |
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| Solicitor-General for Ireland | |
| In office 1850–1852 |
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| Dublin University | |
| In office 1859–1866 |
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| Enniskillen | |
| In office 1851–1859 |
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| Preceded by | Hon. Henry Arthur Cole |
| Succeeded by | Hon. John Lowry Cole |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1804 |
| Died | 25 November 1876 (aged 72) |
| Political party | Irish Conservative Party |
| Spouse | Rosetta Napier |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin |
James Whiteside (born August 12, 1804 – died November 25, 1876) was an important Irish politician and judge. He was known for his amazing public speaking skills in court. He held several high-ranking legal positions in Ireland during his career.
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Early Life and Education
James Whiteside was born in Delgany, County Wicklow, Ireland. His father, William Whiteside, was a clergyman in the Church of Ireland. Sadly, his father passed away when James was only two years old. His mother raised him, and it's believed she taught him herself in his early years.
He later attended Trinity College Dublin, a famous university. After his studies, he joined the Middle Temple, which is one of the places in London where people train to become barristers (lawyers). He officially became a lawyer in Ireland in 1830.
A Brilliant Legal Career
James Whiteside quickly became a very successful lawyer. By 1842, he was recognized as a top legal expert. He was famous for his powerful and persuasive speeches in court. Many people thought his speaking skills were better than anyone else's at the time.
He defended many well-known people in important trials. For example, he defended Daniel O'Connell in 1843 and William Smith O'Brien in 1848. These were very public cases involving important Irish figures. One of his biggest successes was in a famous case called the Yelverton case in 1861.
Political Roles and High Office
Whiteside also had a successful career in politics. He was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Enniskillen in 1851. Later, in 1859, he became the MP for Dublin University.
His excellent speaking skills helped him in Parliament too. In 1852, he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland. This is a senior legal advisor role for the government. He then became Attorney-General for Ireland in 1858 and again in 1866. This role is the chief legal officer for the government.
In 1866, he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench. This is one of the highest judicial positions in Ireland. He had previously turned down offers to be a less senior judge. While he was a very popular judge, his reputation as a judge wasn't quite as high as his reputation as a lawyer.
He also wrote some books. In 1848, after visiting Italy, he published Italy in the Nineteenth Century. In 1870, he collected some of his older writings into a book called Early Sketches of Eminent Persons.
Personal Life and Character
In July 1833, James Whiteside married Rosetta Napier. She was the sister of Sir Joseph Napier, who also became a very important judge in Ireland. James Whiteside passed away on November 25, 1876, in Brighton, Sussex, England.
People generally liked James Whiteside very much. He was known for being charming, smart, and having a great sense of humor. Lawyers who worked with him said that his kindness and constant jokes made appearing in his court a pleasant experience.
Like his brother-in-law Joseph Napier, James Whiteside was very dedicated to the Church of Ireland. He strongly disagreed with the idea of its disestablishment. This meant he opposed the Church of Ireland losing its official status as the state church.
