Richard Malone, 1st Baron Sunderlin facts for kids
Richard Malone, 1st Baron Sunderlin (born around 1738 – died 14 April 1816) was an important Anglo-Irish politician and a member of the nobility. He held the title of Baron Sunderlin.
Early Life and Education
Richard Malone was the oldest son of Edmond Malone, who was a judge in Ireland's highest court for common law cases. His mother was Catherine Collier. Richard's uncle was Anthony Malone, a well-known lawyer and politician. Richard inherited many large properties from his uncle in different parts of Ireland, including Westmeath and Dublin.
Richard went to Trinity College, Dublin, a famous university, and finished his studies there in 1755. He then continued his education at Christ Church, Oxford in England, earning a Master of Arts degree in 1759. He also studied law at Middle Temple in London, which is one of the places where people train to become barristers (lawyers who argue in court). After his training, he worked as a barrister in Ireland.
A Career in Politics
Richard Malone became a Member of Parliament (MP), which means he was elected to represent people in the Irish Parliament. He served as an MP for the area of Granard from 1769 to 1776. Later, he was an MP for Banagher from 1783 to 1785.
On 30 June 1785, Richard Malone was given the title of Baron Sunderlin of Lake Sunderlin. This made him a "peer" in the Peerage of Ireland, which is a system of noble titles. Being a Baron meant he had a special seat in the Irish House of Lords, which was part of the Irish Parliament.
Family and Legacy
Richard Malone did not have any children of his own. Because of this, a special arrangement was made in 1797. He was given a second title, Baron Sunderlin of Baronston, also in the Peerage of Ireland. This new title had a "special remainder," meaning it was set up so that his brother, Edmond Malone, would inherit it after him. Edmond Malone was famous for being a scholar who studied and edited the works of William Shakespeare.
However, Richard's brother Edmond passed away before him. So, when Richard Malone died on 14 April 1816, both of his Baron titles ended because there was no one left to inherit them. After his death, there was a long disagreement over who should inherit the family's properties and wealth. Some people blamed his uncle Anthony Malone, who was a very smart lawyer but had not made his will clear enough about what should happen if there were no direct heirs.
