Lord Chancellor of Ireland facts for kids
The Lord High Chancellor of Ireland was the most important judge and political leader in Ireland for many centuries. This powerful role existed until 1922, when the Irish Free State was created.
From 1721 until 1800, the Lord Chancellor was also the main leader of the Irish Parliament. They were the Speaker of the Irish House of Lords, which was like being the head of one of the two main groups of lawmakers. The Lord Chancellor also looked after the Great Seal of Ireland, which was a special stamp used to make official documents legal.
This job was very similar to the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, showing how closely linked the two countries were in terms of their legal and political systems.
How the Job Started
It's a bit tricky to know exactly when the job of Lord Chancellor of Ireland first began. For a while, the same person might have been the Chancellor for both England and Ireland. But by 1232, there was a clear sign that Ireland had its own separate court system called the Court of Chancery (Ireland).
The first Lord Chancellors of Ireland, like Stephen Ridell in 1186, often worked for the English Chancellor. They acted through a helper or "Deputy." Around 1244, it was decided that England and Ireland should have their own separate Chancellors.
The salary for the Irish Lord Chancellor was set at 60 marks a year, which was about 40 pounds sterling. This was twice what a traveling judge earned back then! However, it seems it wasn't always enough. For example, Richard Northalis, who was Lord Chancellor from 1393 to 1397, complained that his salary didn't even cover a third of his costs. He asked for an extra 20 pounds a year.
In the early days, the Lord Chancellor was almost always a cleric (a religious person, like a priest or bishop) and usually from England. After the Reformation (a big change in religion in the 1500s), more non-religious people started getting the job. After 1665, no more clerics became Chancellor. Even though there were some exceptions, the Kings and Queens of England preferred English-born Chancellors until the mid-1800s.
Important Lord Chancellors of Ireland
Over the centuries, many important people held the position of Lord Chancellor of Ireland. They played a big part in shaping Ireland's laws and government.
- Stephen Ridell was the very first Lord Chancellor, appointed in 1186. He came to Ireland with the future King John.
- Ralph Neville (1234–1235) was also the Lord Chancellor of England, showing how important this role was and how some people held top jobs in both countries.
- Archbishop Adam Loftus held the office for a very long time, from 1581 to 1605.
- Sir John Ross was the last Lord Chancellor of Ireland, serving from 1921 until the office ended in 1922.
The role of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was a key part of Irish history, linking the legal and political systems of Ireland with those of England for over 700 years.
