William Steele (Lord Chancellor of Ireland) facts for kids

William Steele was an important English lawyer, judge, and politician who lived from about 1610 to 1680. He was born in Sandbach, a town in England. William Steele served in the House of Commons, which is a part of the English Parliament where laws are made. He also held high positions like Chief Baron of the Exchequer and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

William Steele was the son of Richard Steele and Cicely Shaw. He studied at Caius College, Cambridge, a famous university in England.

Early Career and Important Roles

William Steele started his career as a lawyer. He became well-known for his skills.

Becoming Recorder of London

In 1648, William Steele was chosen to be the Recorder of London. This was a very important legal job in the city of London. It meant he was the main legal advisor and judge for the city.

Role in Key Trials

In 1649, William Steele was asked to be one of the lawyers for a very important trial against King Charles I. However, he became sick and could not take part in that specific trial. A few days later, he did help with the legal case against James Hamilton, 1st Duke of Hamilton and other important Royalists. Royalists were people who supported the King during the English Civil War.

Political Life and High Offices

William Steele continued to rise in his political career. He held several powerful positions in the government.

Serving in Parliament

In 1654, William Steele was elected as a MP for the City of London. This meant he represented the people of London in the House of Commons.

Chief Baron and Lord Chancellor

In 1655, he became the Chief Baron of the Exchequer. This was a top judge position in the court that handled government money matters. The next year, in 1656, he was made Lord Chancellor of Ireland. This was the highest legal and judicial role in Ireland at that time.

Governing Ireland

After Richard Cromwell was no longer in power, William Steele was one of five people chosen in 1659 to help govern Ireland. He played a key role in leading the country.

Return to England

Later that year, he returned to England. When the King was restored to power in 1660, William Steele was protected by a special law called the Act of Indemnity. This law helped people avoid punishment for things they did during the time without a king. Even so, he decided to live in Holland for a while. He came back to England before he passed away around 1680.

Family Connections

William Steele came from a family with other notable members.

Notable Relatives

William Steele's uncle, Thomas Steele, died in 1643 during the English Civil War. His brother, Laurence Steele, was the Clerk of the Irish House of Commons for many years, from 1662 to 1697. This was an important role in the Irish Parliament.

Marriages and Children

William Steele married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Godfrey, whom he married in 1638. She was the daughter of Richard Godfrey, who was also a Member of Parliament. In 1662, William Steele married his second wife, Mary Mellish. He had children from both marriages.

His daughter, Mary Steele, married George Boddington, who was a director of the Bank of England. William Steele's grandson was the famous writer Richard Steele (1672–1729). This Richard Steele was the son of William's first son, also named Richard Steele, who was a lawyer in Ireland.

Images for kids

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  A family tree showing the connections of the Steele family.