Robert Rochfort facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Robert Rochfort
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Robert Rochfort as Speaker of the Irish House of Commons
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| Born | 9 December 1652 |
| Died | 10 October 1727 (aged 74) |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Occupation | lawyer, politician and judge |
| Known for | Attorney General for Ireland, Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons |
| Spouse(s) | Hannah Handcock |
| Children | two sons |
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Robert Rochfort (born December 9, 1652 – died October 10, 1727) was an important Irish lawyer, politician, and judge. He lived in the late 1600s and early 1700s. He held several high-ranking jobs. These included being the top lawyer for Ireland, a chief judge, and the leader of the Irish Parliament.
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Robert Rochfort's Family History
Robert Rochfort was born on December 9, 1652. He was the second son of Lieutenant-Colonel James Rochfort. His father was a soldier and was sometimes called "Prime-Iron." Robert's mother was Thomasina Pigott. Her father was Sir Robert Pigott.
Sadly, Robert's father passed away before Robert was born. He died after a serious disagreement, and Robert was born a few months later. Robert's mother later married George Peyton.
Robert married Hannah Handcock. Her father, William Handcock, was a Member of Parliament (MP). Robert and Hannah had two sons, George and John.
The Rochfort family has lived in Ireland since 1243. They owned a lot of land in different parts of Ireland. Robert was a descendant of an early family member, Sir Milo de Rochfort.
Starting His Career
Robert Rochfort began his career as a successful lawyer in Ireland. In 1680, he became the Recorder of Derry. This meant he was a judge in that city. He held this job for many years, until 1707.
Becoming a Leader
From 1692 to 1707, Robert Rochfort was a Member of Parliament (MP). He represented County Westmeath in the Irish House of Commons. This was like being a representative in today's government.
He believed that the Irish Parliament should have the main power to make laws for Ireland. This idea was a challenge to some older laws. Despite this, he was chosen as the Attorney General for Ireland in 1694. This was a very important legal job. He also became the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons that same year. The Speaker is like the president of the Parliament. He stayed in this role until 1699.
Robert Rochfort was involved in a big political event in 1695. He played a part in trying to remove the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Sir Charles Porter. There were accusations that Sir Charles had not acted properly as a judge. However, the attempt to remove him did not succeed.
Later Life and Legacy
Later in his career, Robert Rochfort's political views changed. He became known for supporting the government's plans in Parliament. In 1707, he became the Chief Baron of the Exchequer. This was a very high judicial position.
He held this job until 1714. When Queen Anne died, many judges, including Rochfort, were removed from their positions. This happened because of their political beliefs. After this, Robert Rochfort went back to working as a lawyer.
Robert Rochfort passed away on October 10, 1727. His grandson, Robert Rochfort, later became a very important person. He was given the title of Baron Bellfield in 1737 and then Earl of Belvedere in 1757.
