John Leslie Foster facts for kids

John Leslie Foster, born around 1781, was an important Irish lawyer, judge, and politician. He was a Tory MP (which means he was part of the UK Parliament). He was also a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS), a special group for top scientists and thinkers.

In 1830, he became a judge in the Court of Exchequer of Ireland. This court handled money matters for the government.

John Leslie Foster was the son of William Foster, who was a Bishop. His uncle was John Foster, 1st Baron Oriel, another important figure. John Leslie Foster studied at Trinity College Dublin and St John's College, Cambridge.

John Leslie Foster's Early Life and Travels

After his father passed away when John Leslie Foster was about 16, his uncle, John Foster, looked after his education. His uncle encouraged him to travel and even hired him as his private secretary.

In April 1802, John Leslie Foster visited Paris during a break in fighting between Britain and France. He even met Napoleon! He noticed how grand the court at the Tuileries was, saying it was "much greater than ever was the old court of France."

Later that year, in July, he went on a big trip around Europe. He visited Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Prussia, and even went to the Black Sea and Constantinople (modern-day Istanbul). He returned to Dublin in September 1803.

John Leslie Foster's Family Life

On August 9, 1814, John Leslie Foster married Letitia Vesey-Fitzgerald. They had five sons and one daughter. One of their sons, John Foster Vesey-Fitzgerald, later became a politician in Australia.

In the summer of 1814, John Leslie Foster bought his family home at Rathescar in County Louth, Ireland. His uncle, John Foster, had lived there before. John Leslie Foster did a lot of repairs and changes to the house.

John Leslie Foster's Political Career

John Leslie Foster became a lawyer in Ireland in 1803. He also published a book in 1804 about how money is exchanged between England and Ireland.

In 1809, he was part of a group that worked on improving the bogs (wetlands) of Ireland.

From 1807 to 1812, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Dublin University. He had first tried for this seat in 1806.

He went back to being a lawyer in 1812. But in 1816, the government asked him to return to Parliament. He became the MP for Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight.

In the 1818 election, he was chosen as MP for two places: Lisburn and Armagh City. He chose to represent Armagh City and served there from 1818 to 1820.

From 1818 to 1826, he was a legal advisor for the Irish Board of Customs and Excise.

Between 1824 and 1830, he was the MP for County Louth. He also became a director of the Drogheda Steam Packet Company in 1825. During this time, he also served as the Mayor of Drogheda.

In 1824, he was appointed to a special group called a Royal Commission. This group looked into how education was provided in Ireland. Another member of this group, Richard Lalor Sheil, said that Foster seemed to be against the Catholic Priesthood.

The 1826 Co. Louth Election

In the County Louth election in August 1826, John Leslie Foster lost his top spot. He was beaten by Alexander Dawson, a candidate supported by O’Connell's powerful Catholic Association.

After this tough election, John Leslie Foster wrote to his sister. He complained that priests in their churches told people it was a "matter of Eternal Damnation" to vote for him. They even said voting against him would make up for sins. The Catholic Association had already won in County Waterford. This election showed their growing power, which led to another big win two years later in County Clare.

John Leslie Foster and Catholic Emancipation

John Leslie Foster was against "Catholic Emancipation." This was a movement to give Roman Catholics more rights, like being able to sit in Parliament. Even though he said he wasn't an "Orangeman" (a group often against Catholic rights), he spoke out against bills like Henry Grattan's 1812 Catholic Relief Bill. His speech was even published as a pamphlet.

However, after O’Connell was elected MP for County Clare in 1828, it became clear to the government that they couldn't keep opposing Catholic Emancipation. Foster eventually agreed to support the Emancipation Bill once certain protections were put in place.

In January 1829, John Leslie Foster met with important leaders like Peel to discuss the issue. They decided that if Catholics were given more rights, there needed to be a compromise. So, the Forty-Shilling Freeholders' Bill was introduced. This bill would change who could vote.

On March 30, 1829, the 1829 Roman Catholic Relief Bill became law. At the same time, Foster's compromise, the Forty Shilling Freeholders’ Bill, was also approved. This new bill raised the voting qualification. It was meant to stop voters from being controlled by landlords or priests.

John Leslie Foster Becomes a Judge

John Leslie Foster did not run for election in 1830. It had been decided that he would get a promotion after his job as Counsel to the Revenue ended.

After leaving politics, John Leslie Foster was appointed as a Baron of the Court of Exchequer of Ireland on July 16, 1830. He later moved to the Court of Common Pleas. He passed away on July 10, 1842, while working in Cavan.

He also served as the Treasurer of King's Inns, a legal society, from 1832 to 1833 and again from 1838 to 1839.