Thomas Nugent, 1st Baron Nugent of Riverston facts for kids
Thomas Nugent (died May 1715) was an important Irish lawyer and judge. He served as the top judge in Ireland, called the Lord Chief Justice, during the reign of King James II. He also held a special title, Baron Nugent of Riverston, which was passed down in his family.
Early Life and Family
Thomas Nugent was the second son of Richard Nugent, who was the 2nd Earl of Westmeath. His mother was Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Nugent. Thomas studied law to become a lawyer. After King James II became king, Thomas was made a King's Counsel in 1685. This meant he was a special lawyer who advised the King.
Thomas Nugent lived at Pallas, a family estate in County Galway, Ireland. His grandfather had bought this estate in 1621. In 1680, Thomas married Marianna Barnewall. They had three children:
- Hyacinth Richard Nugent, who later became the 2nd Baron Nugent of Riverston
- William Nugent, who became the 3rd Baron Nugent of Riverston
- Mary Nugent
His title, Baron Nugent of Riverston, was used by his family for many years. It later joined with the Earl of Westmeath title in 1839. A famous painter named Peter Lely painted a full-length picture of Thomas Nugent in his judge's robes. This painting was kept at Pallas Castle.
Career as a Judge
In March 1686, Thomas Nugent became a judge in the Court of King's Bench in Ireland. A few months later, he joined the Privy Council of Ireland. This was a group of important advisors to the King. In October 1687, he became the Lord Chief Justice, the highest judge in Ireland.
One of his main tasks was to help Catholics who had lost their rights. He worked to reverse legal decisions that had made them outlaws. He also helped King James II appoint new sheriffs. These were local officials who kept the peace.
Thomas Nugent also helped bring back an old law from King Henry VII's time. This law made it illegal to own guns without permission from the government. This law was used to take weapons away from Protestants.
In 1688, Thomas Nugent traveled to England with another judge, Stephen Rice. They went to talk to King James II about changing some laws in Ireland. However, they were not able to convince the King to make the changes they wanted.
When King James II arrived in Ireland in 1689, Thomas Nugent was working in Cork. He was involved in some important events during this time. He advised King James II on legal matters.
Thomas Nugent was also a member of the Patriot Parliament, which met in 1689. He sat as a peer, which means he was a member of the House of Lords because of his title. He helped create a new law to change previous land laws. He was very active in the House of Lords. He also became a commissioner for the Irish treasury, which managed the country's money.
Thomas Nugent was in Limerick during a siege by William III's forces. He worked as a secretary there for a few months. After the fighting ended, he was allowed to return to his home at Pallas.
Even though he was declared an outlaw for supporting King James II, Thomas Nugent was able to keep his lands. This was thanks to the Treaty of Limerick, a peace agreement. He passed away in 1715.
Images for kids
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Pallas Castle, County Galway, Nugent's family home
