Maziere Brady facts for kids
Sir Maziere Brady (born July 20, 1796 – died April 13, 1871) was an important Irish judge. He is most remembered for serving a very long time as the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which is like the country's chief judge and a top government advisor.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Maziere Brady was born in Dublin, Ireland. His father, Francis Tempest Brady, made gold and silver thread. His mother was Charlotte Hodgson. Maziere had a brother, Sir Nicholas Brady, who became the Lord Mayor of Dublin. His nephew, William Maziere Brady, became a famous historian.
The Brady family was well-known in Munster, especially around Bandon, County Cork. One of Maziere's most famous ancestors was Nicholas Brady (1659–1726). He was a poet who worked with Nahum Tate, a famous poet of his time, to create a new version of the Psalms of David for church hymns.
Other important family members included Hugh Brady, who was the first Protestant Bishop of Meath. Also, his father-in-law, Robert Weston, was also a Lord Chancellor of Ireland, just like Maziere would become. Another ancestor was Luke Gernon, a judge and writer. He wrote a book called A Discourse of Ireland in 1620. This book described Ireland from an English point of view.
Education and Early Career
Maziere Brady studied at Trinity College Dublin, a well-known university. He earned his degree in 1816. After that, he began studying law in London. He became a lawyer in 1819. By 1835, he was made a King's Counsel, which is a special title for experienced lawyers.
His Work as a Judge
Maziere Brady was a Liberal in politics. He supported Catholic Emancipation, which meant giving equal rights to Catholics in Ireland. In 1833, he helped with a study about Irish towns and cities.
He became the Solicitor-General for Ireland in 1837. This role is a top legal advisor to the government. The next year, he became the Attorney-General for Ireland, an even higher legal position.
In 1840, he was appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in Ireland. This was a very important judge role. Then, in 1846, he became the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. He held this powerful position for about 20 years, with only short breaks.
He retired in 1866. In 1869, he was given the special title of baronet. This meant he became "Sir Maziere Brady, 1st Baronet." His appointment as Lord Chancellor was important because it meant an Irish lawyer was chosen for the role. Before him, many Lord Chancellors were English.
Maziere Brady was always interested in education. He served on a government committee about Trinity College Dublin in 1851. He was also named Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University Belfast in 1850.
What People Thought of Him
Some people thought Maziere Brady was a better Lord Chief Baron than a Lord Chancellor. They said he was fair, polite, and easy to talk to as a Chief Baron. However, the job of Lord Chancellor was more difficult and involved politics. Some felt he struggled with the special rules of equity, a different part of law.
However, others had a more positive view. They said that even if his judgments weren't super detailed, he was good at finding the main problem in a case. He could also apply the right legal rule to solve it.
One old pamphlet from 1850 was critical of Irish judges. It said Brady had trouble keeping order in his court. It also said he was easily scared by strong lawyers. But one of those lawyers, Jonathan Christian, later said Brady was "no ordinary man." He praised Brady for being independent, patriotic, and natural.
Family and Personal Life
Maziere Brady was a founding member of the Stephen's Green Club. He was also part of the Royal Dublin Society and the Royal Irish Academy. He loved both the arts and science, especially after he retired.
Like many important people of his time, he had two homes. One was a townhouse in central Dublin. The other was a country house called Hazelbrook in Terenure, Dublin. He died in his Dublin townhouse in 1871 and is buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery.
In 1823, Maziere Brady married Elizabeth Anne Buchanan. They had five children:
- Sir Francis William Brady, who became the 2nd Baronet after his father. He also became a lawyer and a judge.
- Maziere, who also became a lawyer.
- Eleanor, who married Reverend Benjamin Puckle.
- Charlotte, who married Reverend John Westropp Brady.
- Elizabeth-Anne.
Elizabeth Buchanan Brady passed away in 1858. In 1860, Maziere Brady married again to Mary Hatchell. She was the daughter of John Hatchell, who was also an Attorney General for Ireland. Mary survived him when he died on April 13, 1871.
Images for kids
-
The coat of arms for the Brady family of Hazelbrook.
_Escutcheon.png)
