John Monroe (lawyer) facts for kids
John Monroe (1839 – September 1899) was an Irish lawyer and judge. He held important positions in the legal system during his lifetime.
Early Life and Education
John Monroe was born in 1839 in Moira, County Down, Ireland. He was the oldest son of John Monroe senior and Jane Harvey.
He studied at Queens College Galway, which is now known as the University of Galway. While there, he was the leader of the college's Literary and Debating Society for two years, from 1860 to 1862.
Monroe also studied law at the King's Inns in Dublin. This is a special place where lawyers in Ireland are trained. He was also the leader of the Law Students' Debating Society of Ireland during the 1862–1863 school year.
Career as a Lawyer and Judge
John Monroe became a lawyer in Ireland in 1863. This is often called being "called to the Irish Bar".
In 1877, he became a senior lawyer, known as a Queen's Counsel. This was a special title given to experienced lawyers who advised the Crown. He also became a "Bencher" of the King's Inns in 1884, which meant he was a senior member involved in running the institution.
Monroe held several important government legal roles:
- From 1879 to 1880, he was a legal advisor to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, who was the Queen's representative in Ireland.
- In June 1885, he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland. This is a high-ranking government lawyer.
- Later that year, in November 1885, he became a judge in the Landed Estates Court. This court dealt with land ownership issues in Ireland.
In 1886, he was also made a member of the Irish Privy Council. This was a group of important advisors to the monarch.
Monroe was known for being very good at his job. He was especially seen as an expert on the complex land situation in Ireland at the time. However, due to poor health, he had to leave his judge position in 1893.
Family Life
John Monroe passed away in September 1899 in Dalkey, County Dublin.
He married Elizabeth Moule in 1867. Elizabeth was from a well-known family in Elmley Lovett, Worcestershire, England. Together, they had seven children.
One of their younger sons, Horace, became a clergyman. He worked at St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin and later wrote a short history about his mother's family. John Monroe's marriage also connected his family to another important Irish judge, Hugh Holmes, who married Elizabeth's sister, Olivia.
