Richard Moore (Irish lawyer) facts for kids
Richard Moore (born 1783, died 1857) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He lived in Ireland during the 1800s and held several key legal jobs.
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Early Life and Family
Richard Moore was born in 1783, near a town called Clonmel in County Tipperary, Ireland. He was the second son of Stephen Moore and Salisbury Moore. His family was a branch of a well-known landowning family in Ireland.
Even though Richard lived mostly in Dublin, he owned some land in Tipperary. His great-nephew, also named Stephen Moore, later became a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tipperary.
Richard Moore was married twice. His first wife was Frances Bligh. They had one son, Richard Moore junior. Later, in 1824, he married Wilhelmina Westby. With Wilhelmina, he had another son, William Westby Moore, and a daughter named Frances.
His Path to Becoming a Judge
Richard Moore studied at Trinity College Dublin, a famous university in Ireland, and finished his degree in 1803. After that, he went to London to study law at the Middle Temple.
In 1806, he became a lawyer in Ireland, which meant he could argue cases in court. He worked hard and became a King's Counsel in 1827. This was a special title given to experienced lawyers.
He also held other important legal positions, like Third Serjeant and a Bencher of the King's Inn. In 1840, he became the Solicitor General for Ireland. This job meant he was one of the main legal advisors to the government.
Important Legal Roles
Richard Moore continued to rise in his legal career. From 1846 to 1847, he served as the Attorney-General for Ireland. This was an even more important job, making him the chief legal officer for the government in Ireland.
After this, he was appointed as a judge in the Court of Queen's Bench (Ireland). He worked as a judge until he passed away in 1857.
One of the most notable cases he was involved in as a judge was the trial of William Smith O'Brien in 1849. O'Brien was a leader in the Young Irelander Rebellion of 1848. Although O'Brien was initially sentenced to a harsh punishment, it was later changed, and he received a full pardon in 1856, allowing him to return to Ireland.
What People Thought of Him
People generally respected Richard Moore for his strong legal skills and intelligence. Even though he was a very smart lawyer, he was known to be modest about his own abilities. An old pamphlet from 1850, which often criticized judges, spoke very highly of Richard Moore's sharp mind.
The Hermitage and St. Enda's School
From 1840 until his death, Richard Moore lived in a house called "The Hermitage" in Rathfarnham, Dublin. This house later became very famous.
After Moore's death, his family sold the house in 1859. Years later, "The Hermitage" became St. Enda's School, a secondary school for boys founded by the famous Irish educator and revolutionary, Padraic Pearse.
Since 1968, the house and its grounds have been owned by the Irish government. Today, "The Hermitage" is known as the Pearse Museum, where visitors can learn about Padraic Pearse and the history of the school.
