Thomas Dalton (judge) facts for kids

Thomas Dalton was an important judge who was born in England but worked in Ireland. He became the top judge in a special court called the Court of Exchequer. He passed away on June 23, 1730.

Thomas Dalton: A Judge in Ireland

Thomas Dalton was born in Hampshire, England. He was the oldest son of Reverend Peter Dalton. His mother came from the well-known Dominick family in Dublin, Ireland. This family gave their name to Dominick Street in Dublin city. His uncle, Sir Christopher Dominick, started building this street in the 1720s.

Education and Early Career

Thomas Dalton went to Queen's College, Oxford and finished his studies in 1702. Later, in 1706, he became a fellow at All Souls' College, which is another part of Oxford University. He became a lawyer in 1711.

In 1725, Thomas Dalton was chosen to be the Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. This was a very important job as a judge in Ireland. He held this position until he died in 1730. He was about 55 years old when he passed away. He was buried in St Andrew's Church in Dublin.

Family Life

Thomas Dalton was married to Jane Dyott. Her father, Richard Dyott, owned property in London. Thomas and Jane had one son, also named Thomas. At the time of his father's death, young Thomas was still a child.

After Thomas Dalton died, a very important person named Archbishop Boulter wrote about his family. He felt sad that they faced money problems after Dalton moved to Ireland for his job.

Reputation as a Judge

During his time at Oxford University, some people thought Thomas Dalton was a bit proud. However, when he became the Chief Baron, he earned a very good name. People respected him as a fair and knowledgeable judge. After he died, people wrote poems praising him as a "learned and unbiased judge." This means he was wise and always made fair decisions.

His good reputation in Ireland was also confirmed by Hugh Boulter, a very powerful leader of the church in Ireland. Archbishop Boulter was often asked for his opinion on who should get important judge jobs. When another important judge died, Boulter suggested Thomas Dalton for a top position. He said Dalton had a "very good character" and knew a lot about Ireland's affairs. After Dalton's death, Boulter said that the King had never had a more dedicated, skilled, and hardworking servant.

Thomas Dalton passed away on June 23, 1730, after a short illness. His friends believed that the very heavy workload in the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) might have made him sick and led to his early death.