John Thomas Ball facts for kids
John Thomas Ball (born 24 July 1815 – died 17 March 1898) was an important Irish lawyer, judge, and politician. He served in the Parliament of the United Kingdom and later became the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. This was a very high legal position.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Thomas Ball was born in Dundrum, Dublin. His father, Major Benjamin Ball, was a soldier who fought bravely in the Peninsular War. John's grandmother, Penelope Paumier, was a big influence on him when he was growing up.
He was a very bright student. He started studying at Trinity College Dublin when he was only 16 years old. He earned his law degree in 1844. Besides his studies, he was also known as a journalist and even wrote some poetry.
Career as a Lawyer and Politician
John Thomas Ball became a lawyer, also called a barrister, in 1840. He mostly worked on cases about wills and family matters. He became a top lawyer, known as a Queen's Counsel, in 1854. Over the years, he held several important legal roles for the government in Ireland. These included Queen's Advocate, Solicitor General for Ireland, and Attorney General for Ireland.
He was also a politician. He was a member of the Conservative Party. From 1868 to 1875, he was a Member of Parliament for Dublin University. This meant he helped make laws in the House of Commons in London.
Ball was known for his strong speeches. He spoke against the Irish Church Act 1869, which changed the official church in Ireland. However, he later helped create new rules for the Church of Ireland, which he was a devoted member of his whole life. He also disagreed with other important laws proposed by Prime Minister Gladstone, such as the Landlord and Tenant Act of 1870.
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
When the Conservative Party came back into power in 1874, John Thomas Ball became Attorney General again. His skills were so valued that the Prime Minister, Benjamin Disraeli, did not want to lose him from his team.
In 1875, John Thomas Ball was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland. This was the highest legal position in Ireland. He served in this role until 1880. As a judge, he had an excellent reputation. His decisions, especially in cases about wills, were well-written and showed great knowledge.
When the Conservatives left office in 1880, Ball's public career ended. He was 65 years old and his health began to decline. He rarely left his home after 1890.
Writings
John Thomas Ball wrote two books. One was about the Church of Ireland, and the other was about the laws and government system in Ireland.
Family Life
In 1852, John Thomas Ball married Catherine Elrington. She was the daughter of a professor of Divinity at the University of Dublin. Catherine passed away in 1887.
They had three sons: Charles, Thomas, and F. Elrington Ball. Their son F. Elrington Ball became a well-known author and historian of law. He is remembered for his important book The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 and his six-volume History of the Parishes of Dublin.
