Lord President of Munster facts for kids
The Lord President of Munster was a very important job in the English government of the Irish region called Munster. This position started in the time of Queen Elizabeth I and lasted for about 100 years, until 1672. During this time, there were big conflicts like the Desmond Rebellions, the Nine Years' War, and the Irish Rebellion of 1641.
The Lord President was under the Lord Deputy of Ireland, who was like the main governor of all Ireland. However, within Munster, the Lord President had a lot of power. They handled civil (everyday life) and criminal (lawbreaking) matters, as well as church laws. They could also declare martial law (military rule), appoint officials, and command soldiers. Sometimes, a military governor of Munster did not have the full title of President.
Because the President had so much power, they often had disagreements with older courts. For example, in 1622, a President named Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond was told not to get involved in cases that belonged to other courts. The President had a team of helpers called a Council. This Council included the Chief Justice of Munster, another judge, and the Attorney General for the region. By 1620, this Council was always based in Limerick. The job of Lord President was ended in 1672.
Starting the Role
The idea for the President of Munster job came from Sir Henry Sidney in the late 1560s. It was hard to find someone for the role at first. Warham St Leger was suggested in 1566, but the King or Queen didn't approve. John Pollard said no because of money problems. Later, in 1569, Sir Edward Fitton took the job of Lord President of Connaught, another region in Ireland.
The first person officially appointed as President of Munster was Sir John Perrot in 1568. But it took him several years to actually arrive in Munster. Some records also say that Humphrey Gilbert held the title in 1569.
Around the late 1500s or early 1600s, Shandon Castle became an official home for the President. This castle was used as a place to live, for court hearings, and even as a prison.
Leaders of Munster
Here are some of the people who held the important job of Lord President of Munster:
- 1568 John Perrot (He didn't arrive in Ireland until 1571 and left after 1573)
- 1576–1578 William Drury
- 1584–1597 John Norreys
- 1597–1599 Thomas Norreys
- 1600–1603 George Carew, 1st Earl of Totnes
- Carew wanted to leave the job. He was replaced around the time King James I became king of England.
- 1607–1615 Henry Danvers, 1st Earl of Danby
- 1615 Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond (He bought the position and died in 1624)
- 1625 Edward Villiers (He died in 1626)
- 1627–1642 William St Leger (After he died, the situation in Munster became very confusing, and Irish forces controlled much of the area until Oliver Cromwell's army arrived)
- March 1643 Jerome Weston, 2nd Earl of Portland (The king named him, but he had no real power, and it upset Murrough O'Brien)
- c.1645 Viscount Muskerry (He was named by the king, even though he was with the Irish forces from 1642)
- 1647 Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin (He was appointed by the Parliament, but later switched to support the King in 1648)
- From about 1649 Henry Ireton (He died in 1651)
- ? to 1668 Roger Boyle, 1st Earl of Orrery (He resigned in 1668)
Assistants and Temporary Leaders
Sometimes, people acted as Vice-presidents or deputies, meaning they were assistants or took charge when the main President was not there.
- 1579 Warham St Leger was a provost-marshal (a military police chief) in Munster.
- 1583 William Stanley acted as a deputy.
- 1585–1597 Thomas Norreys was the vice-president to his brother John.
- c. 1589 William Herbert acted as vice-president.
- Edward Legge was a vice-president.
- 1607 After Brouncker died and before Danvers was appointed, Richard Moryson and Donogh O'Brien, 4th Earl of Thomond acted as President.
- 1609 Richard Moryson became vice-president. In 1613, Moryson tried to buy the presidency from Danvers, but Thomond got the job instead.
- 1660 Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin was a vice-president.
- ? Roger Boyle, 2nd Earl of Orrery was vice-president to his father.
See also
