Lord High Treasurer of Ireland facts for kids

The Lord High Treasurer of Ireland was a very important job in the old Kingdom of Ireland. Think of them as the main money manager for the whole country! They were in charge of the Exchequer of Ireland, which was like the government's bank and tax office.

The word "High" was added to their title in 1695, making it sound even more important.

Later, in 1800, Ireland joined with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. Because of this, a law was passed in 1816 that combined Ireland's money office (the Irish Inferior Exchequer) with the main British money office, called the British Treasury. This happened in 1817.

After this, the job of Lord High Treasurer of Ireland could only be held by the same person who was the Treasurer of the Exchequer for all of Britain. This combined role was known as the Lord High Treasurer. Since 1816, no single person has been appointed to both jobs. Instead, a group of people called the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury have managed the role.

However, the main Irish court that dealt with money matters, the Court of Exchequer, continued to exist. It was led by a judge called the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.

Who Were the Lord Treasurers?

For hundreds of years, many different people held the important job of Lord Treasurer of Ireland. They were responsible for managing the country's money, collecting taxes, and making sure the government had enough funds.

Early Treasurers (1217–1695)

From the early 1200s, this role was often held by important church leaders, like bishops, or by knights and other powerful figures. They helped the King of England manage Ireland's finances. Over these centuries, the role changed hands many times. Some people held the position for a short time, while others served for many years.

Later High Treasurers (1695–1793)

After 1695, the title officially became "Lord High Treasurer." These individuals continued to oversee Ireland's financial matters until the late 1700s.

Commissioners of the Treasury (1793–1817)

Towards the end of the 1700s, the job of Lord High Treasurer was sometimes handled by a group of people called "Commissioners." These groups worked together to manage the country's finances. This continued until the Irish and British treasuries officially merged in 1817.

What About Vice-Treasurers?

Besides the main Lord Treasurer, there was also a "Vice-Treasurer of Ireland." This person acted as a deputy or assistant to the Lord Treasurer. They helped with the day-to-day tasks of managing the country's money. This role also saw many different people serve over the centuries, assisting the main financial officer of Ireland.