Richard Lalor Sheil facts for kids
Richard Lalor Sheil (born August 17, 1791 – died May 23, 1851) was an important Irish politician, writer, and speaker. He was born in Drumdowney, County Kilkenny, Ireland. His family was staying there while their new home in Bellevue, near Waterford, was being built.
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Richard Sheil's Early Life and Education
Richard's father, Edward Sheil, was a wealthy man who owned land in County Tipperary. His mother, Catherine McCarthy, came from an old noble family.
Richard learned French and Latin from a French teacher named Abbé de Grimeau. He then went to a Catholic school in Kensington, London. Later, he studied at St Patrick's College, Maynooth and Stonyhurst College, Lancashire. In 1807, he joined Trinity College, Dublin. There, he became well-known for his skills in debates at the Historical Society.
Becoming a Lawyer and Political Activist
After finishing his degree in 1811, Richard Sheil became a student at Lincoln's Inn. He officially became a lawyer in Ireland in 1814.
In 1823, Sheil helped start the Catholic Association. This group worked to gain more rights for Catholics in Ireland. He also wrote a request asking Parliament to look into how laws were being used in Ireland.
Working for Catholic Rights
In 1825, Sheil traveled to London with Daniel O'Connell. They went to protest against the government trying to stop the Catholic Association. Their protest was not successful, and the association was officially closed. However, it secretly continued its work.
Sheil was a key supporter of O'Connell. They worked hard until Catholics finally gained more rights in 1829. This was a big step for equality in Ireland.
Sheil's Time in Parliament
In 1829, Richard Sheil was elected to the British Parliament for Milborne Port. In 1831, he was elected for Louth. He stayed in this seat until 1832.
He spoke often in Parliament about issues important to Ireland. Even though he was better at speaking to large crowds, he slowly earned the respect of other Members of Parliament. In 1839, he became the Vice-President of the Board of Trade.
Later Career and Death
When Lord John Russell became Prime Minister in 1846, Sheil was made Master of the Mint. This role involved overseeing the making of coins. In 1850, he became a diplomat, representing Britain in Tuscany, Italy.
Richard Sheil passed away in Florence, Italy, on May 23, 1851. His body was brought back to Ireland by a British warship. He was buried in Long Orchard, near Templetuohy, County Tipperary.
George W. E. Russell, a writer, described Sheil: "Sheil was very small, and didn't look very grand. He had a restless way about him, a high-pitched voice, and spoke incredibly fast. But when it came to beautifully chosen words, no one, not even O'Connell, could speak better than him."
Richard Sheil's Writings and Plays
Richard Sheil was also a talented writer of plays. His play, Adelaide, or the Emigrants, was first performed in Dublin in 1814. It was also shown in London in 1816.
Another play, The Apostate, was performed in 1817. This play helped him become known as a great playwright. Some of his other important plays include Bellamira (1818), Evadne (1819), and Damon and Pythias (1821).
In 1822, Sheil started writing a series of articles called "Sketches of the Irish Bar" for the New Monthly Magazine. He wrote these with William Henry Curran. These articles were later collected and published as Sketches Legal and Political. His speeches were also published in 1845.
Sheil's Family Life
In 1816, Richard Sheil married Miss O'Halloran. They had one son, who sadly died before his father. Sheil's first wife passed away in 1822.
In 1830, he married Anastasia Lalor Power, who was a widow. After this marriage, he added "Lalor" to his name. His younger brother, Justin Sheil, was an army officer and diplomat.
