John Pocklington (MP) facts for kids

John Pocklington (1658–1731) was an English lawyer and politician. He was a member of the Whig Party, which was one of the main political groups in England at the time. He served in the English and British Parliament between 1695 and 1713. Later, he became a judge in Wales in 1707 and then in Ireland in 1714. He moved to Ireland after becoming a judge there. John Pocklington often had poor health. In 1719, he was even put in prison by the Irish House of Lords during a big political disagreement.

He married Mary Hatton in 1689. She was the eldest daughter of Sir Thomas Hatton, 2nd Baronet.

John Pocklington's Political Career

John Pocklington first became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Huntingdon in 1695. He was very active in Parliament. However, he was not chosen to run for election again in 1698. He tried to become an MP for Huntingdon again in 1702 but lost.

In 1705, he was elected as an MP for Huntingdonshire without anyone running against him. He voted with the government on important issues. For example, he supported the choice of the Speaker of Parliament in 1705. He also voted for a part of the Regency Bill in 1706.

In 1707, Pocklington became a judge in Chester. He earned £400 a year. He was recommended for this job by a powerful friend, Charles Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester. Pocklington was re-elected as a Whig MP for Huntingdonshire in 1708. He supported a law to allow German Palatines (people from Germany) to become British citizens in 1709. He also voted to remove Dr. Henry Sacheverell from his position in 1710. This process is called impeachment.

Because of his votes, he faced some insults while traveling for his judge duties in 1710. He was chosen again for Huntingdonshire in 1710. This happened after his friend, the Duke of Manchester, made a deal with another Whig politician. Pocklington voted against a trade bill with France in 1713. He was not chosen to run for Parliament again in the 1713 election.

Becoming a Judge in Ireland

John Pocklington's career in England seemed to be ending in 1713. He lost his seat in Parliament and his judge position. But a new opportunity came up for him in 1714. When Queen Anne died, all the judges in Ireland were removed from their jobs. This was because they supported the Tory Party, which was the other main political group.

It was hard to find good new judges in Ireland. So, English Whig lawyers were asked to serve as judges there. Pocklington agreed to go to Ireland. His old friend, Sir Jeffrey Gilbert, also became a judge in Ireland. Both men became well-liked in Ireland. Their first years there were described as very peaceful and happy.

The Sherlock v Annesley Case

Pocklington's happy life in Ireland changed because of a court case. It was called Sherlock v Annesley. Two cousins were arguing over who owned some land in County Kildare. This case caused a huge problem for the government. Pocklington himself said that "a flame burst forth."

The two cousins took their case to both the Irish and the British House of Lords. This brought back an old argument. Which House of Lords had the final say in legal appeals for Ireland? The two Houses gave different orders to Pocklington and the other judges. The judges felt they had to follow the British order.

The Irish House of Lords then called the judges to explain why they did this. After a long hearing, the judges were put in prison. This was for showing "contempt of Parliament" (disrespecting Parliament). Pocklington was held for three months. This time in prison might have made his health worse later on.

The British Parliament responded by passing a law in 1719. This law, called the Declaratory Act of 1719, took away the Irish House of Lords' right to hear legal appeals. This made people in Ireland even angrier. Pocklington and the other judges were insulted by the public.

Later Life and Health

After being released from prison, Pocklington could have gone back to England. His friend, Sir Jeffrey Gilbert, did return to England. But Pocklington chose to stay in Ireland. He had bought an estate near Celbridge. He tried to become the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas in 1720 but was not successful.

He visited England sometimes, but his health was getting worse. In 1724, he felt well enough to go on a judge's circuit in Munster. But he had a "paralytic seizure" (a type of stroke) in Limerick. The next year, he had to stay in his house for several months. In July 1731, his name appeared as one of the trustees for the King's Inns, a legal society.

Death and Family

John Pocklington died on October 22, 1731. He was buried in Finglas. He and his wife Mary Hatton had one son named Christopher. Christopher became an Admiral in the Irish Navy. Christopher married Elizabeth, who was the daughter of Sir Thomas Domvile, 1st Baronet. She was also the heiress to the Domvile family's estates.

Their children took the Domvile name. They inherited the large Domvile estates in south County Dublin. Later, they were also made Domvile baronets themselves.

Sources

• Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926
• Cambridge Alumni Database
• Cokayne Complete Baronetage Vol. 2 1900
• Kenny, Colum King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland Irish Academic Press Dublin 1992
• Lemmings, David Gentlemen and Barristers: the Inns of Court and the English Bar 1680-1730 Oxford University Press 1990
• Lyall, Andrew The Irish House of Lords as a Judicial Body 1783-1800 Irish Jurist new series Vol. 23-25 (1993-1995)
• The History of Parliament: the House of Commons 1690-1715