William Caulfeild (1665–1737) facts for kids
William Caulfield (born 1665 – died 1737) was an important Irish barrister (a type of lawyer), a Law Officer, and a judge. One of his sons, St. George Caulfeild, even became a very famous judge himself, known as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland.
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William Caulfield's Early Life and Family
William Caulfield was born in 1665. His father was Thomas Caulfield, who owned Donamon Castle, and his mother was Anne Moore. William's family had a long history, as his grandfather was the 2nd Baron Caulfeild.
Since his family was wealthy, William didn't need to start working right away. He studied law at a place called Middle Temple in London. He didn't become a barrister until he was 40 years old!
A Career in Law and Politics
William Caulfield was a member of the Irish House of Commons, which was like the parliament in Ireland at the time. He represented the area of Tulsk.
He became a senior lawyer, known as the Second Serjeant, in 1708. He later became the Prime Serjeant in 1714. As a Law Officer, he was known for working hard to solve local problems and keep things peaceful.
In 1715, William became a judge in the Court of King's Bench (Ireland), where he worked until 1734. He was known for being a fair and hardworking judge. He and his fellow judges in Dublin handled many important legal cases in the city and county.
Challenges and Important Moments
Being a judge was a very busy job. In 1719, while traveling for court duties, William had a very close call. The roof of the courthouse in Roscommon collapsed, and many people lost their lives, but he managed to escape safely.
The heavy workload eventually affected William's health. From 1730 onwards, he was unable to travel for court sessions. He even visited London and Bath in England, hoping to find a cure for his illness. He decided to retire in 1734 because of his health.
Family and Legacy
William Caulfield married a woman named Lettice Gore. They had several children, including Thomas, Toby, and St George Caulfeild. All three of these sons also became members of parliament for Tulsk, just like their father.
His son, St. George Caulfeild, became a very respected judge, known as the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He was one of the most liked Irish judges of his time.
William's home was Donamon Castle in County Roscommon, which he inherited from his father.
