Rickard Deasy facts for kids

Rickard Deasy (born 1812 – died 6 May 1883) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He also served as a politician. He is best known for helping create a law called Deasy's Act, which changed how landlords and tenants worked together in Ireland.

Early Life and Education

Rickard Deasy was born in 1812 at Phale Court in Enniskean, County Cork, Ireland. His father, also named Rickard Deasy, was a wealthy brewer. His mother was Mary Anne Caller.

He went to Trinity College Dublin, a famous university. There, he studied law and earned a special degree called a Doctorate of Law. After his studies, he became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the Irish Bar." He quickly became a very successful lawyer, especially in the Munster region of Ireland. He was even made a Queen's Counsel, which is a high honor for a lawyer.

Family Life

Rickard Deasy married Monica O'Connor, who was the youngest daughter of Hugh O'Connor from Dublin. They had three children together, but sadly, two of them passed away when they were young.

Their only child who lived to adulthood was their son, Henry Hugh Peter Deasy (1866-1947). Henry became a soldier and a writer. He wrote a book about his travels called In Tibet and Chinese Turkestan. Henry also started his own business, the Deasy Motor Car Company. Rickard Deasy's grandson, also named Rickard Deasy, became a well-known campaigner for farmers in Ireland.

Political and Judicial Career

Rickard Deasy became a politician in 1855. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for County Cork. This meant he represented his home county in the British Parliament.

He quickly moved up in his career:

• In 1858, he became a Third Serjeant-at-law, which is a senior legal position.
• In 1859, he was made the Solicitor-General for Ireland. This role helps the government with legal advice.
• In 1860, he became the Attorney-General for Ireland, which is the chief legal advisor to the government. At the same time, he joined the Irish Privy Council, a group of important advisors to the monarch.

In 1861, Rickard Deasy became a judge. He was appointed as a Baron of the Exchequer in the Court of Exchequer. This court dealt with financial matters and other legal cases. Later, in 1878, he was appointed to the Irish Court of Appeal, where he helped make decisions on cases that were being reviewed. He served as a judge until he passed away in 1883.

Deasy's Act

Rickard Deasy was known as a very skilled lawyer, especially in an area of law called "equity," which deals with fairness and justice. When he was a lawyer, he was very dedicated to helping his clients.

As a politician, he was good at getting government work done. His most famous achievement is the Landlord and Tenant Law Amendment (Ireland) Act 1860. This law is still known as "Deasy's Act." As Attorney-General, he helped guide this important law through Parliament. It changed how landlords and tenants in Ireland made agreements and dealt with land.

Rickard Deasy passed away in 1883. He was buried in the family tomb at Deans Grange Cemetery, next to his wife, who had died a few weeks before him.

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