Sir Richard Levinge, 1st Baronet facts for kids
Sir Richard Levinge (born May 2, 1656 – died July 13, 1724) was an important Irish politician and judge. He played a big role in public life in Ireland for over 30 years.
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About His Life
Richard Levinge was born in Leek, Staffordshire, England. He was the second son of Richard Levinge and Anne Parker. His family, the Levinges, had lived in Derbyshire for a long time and were known for serving the public. His mother's cousin was Thomas Parker, who became a very important judge called the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain.
His Career and Public Service
Richard Levinge went to Audlem School and then to St John's College, Cambridge. He studied law and became a lawyer in 1678.
Early Roles in England
From 1690 to 1695, he was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Chester in the English House of Commons. He also served as a judge called the Recorder of Chester. However, King James II removed him from this job.
Moving to Ireland
When William III became King during the Glorious Revolution, Richard Levinge was one of the first to support him. The new government sent him to Ireland in 1689 as the Solicitor-General. This job meant he was a top legal advisor.
In 1692, he became a Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons for Blessington. He held this seat until 1695. During this time, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, which meant he led the meetings.
Richard Levinge was known for trying to bring people together, even when politicians disagreed a lot. Some people even called him "Tom Double" because he tried to please everyone. He supported some laws that were difficult for Irish Catholics, but he was also very open-minded about religion and had many Catholic friends.
Later Positions
He continued to be an MP in the Irish Parliament, representing Longford Borough and Kilkenny City.
He was the Solicitor-General for Ireland again from 1705. He lost this job in 1709 but became the Attorney-General for Ireland in 1711. This was another very important legal role.
Becoming a Judge
Even though he wanted to be a judge in England, he didn't get the chance. However, because he was known for being fair and had a lot of experience in Irish public life, he was chosen to be a judge in Ireland. In 1721, he became the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. This was a very high position. He also became a member of the Privy Council of Ireland, which advised the King.
Richard Levinge was given the special title of Baronet in 1704. He was also an MP for Derby in the British Parliament from 1710 to 1711. He continued to work as a judge until he died, even though he was in a lot of pain from gout.
His Family Life
In 1683, Richard Levinge married Mary Corbin. She was the daughter of a rich merchant from London. They had three sons and three daughters. Mary passed away in 1720.
In 1723, when he was older and not well, he married Mary Johnson. She was the daughter of Robert Johnson, who was also a judge. They had one son, also named Richard, who was born just a few months before his father died.
Children and Grandchildren
Two of his sons from his first marriage, Richard and Charles, later became Baronets. His daughter Mary married Washington Shirley, and they had three daughters. One of them was Selina Hastings, who became a famous religious leader. Another daughter, Dorothy, married Sir John Rawdon and had a son named John Rawdon, who became an Earl. After her first husband died, Dorothy married Charles Cobbe, who was the Archbishop of Dublin.
His son from his second marriage, Richard, lived in Calverstown and was also an MP for Duleek.
Sir Richard Levinge lived in two main places: his family home, Parwich Hall in England, and Knockdrin Castle in County Westmeath, Ireland. He bought Parwich Hall from his older brother. Most of his land and property went to his oldest son, who rebuilt parts of Parwich Hall.
