A. M. Sullivan (Irish lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Alexander Martin Sullivan, Serjeant-at-law
, better known as A M Sullivan (14 January 1871 - 9 January 1959) was an Irish
Lawyer
, best known as the leading counsel for the defence in the 1916 treason
trial of Roger Casement
.
A younger son of A M Sullivan
, he was born in Dublin and educated at Ushaw College
, Belvedere College
, Trinity College Dublin and Kings Inns. Sullivan was called to the Irish Bar
in 1892 and practiced on the Munster
Circuit. He was appointed an Irish KC in 1908 and King's Third Serjeant at Law in Ireland in 1912 advancing to Second Serjeant in 1913 and First Serjeant in 1921 - the last holder of that position.
A moderate constitutional nationalist
and supporter of the Irish Parliamentary Party
, Sullivan was a prominent campaigner for Irish recruitment during the First World War. His opposition to Sinn Féin
republicanism and his prominent role in conducting prosecutions on behalf of the Crown during the Troubles led to at least one attempt on his life. As a result, Sullivan relocated to England in 1921 and established a career at the English Bar, having been called by Middle Temple
in 1899. He subsequently became a Bencher
and Treasurer
of Middle Temple
. He ceased practising law in 1949.
Sullivan was considered one of the most formidable advocates of his generation. In addition to his legal career, Sullivan authored of two books: Old Ireland in 1927 and The Last Serjeant in 1952.
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
, better known as A M Sullivan (14 January 1871 - 9 January 1959) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
Lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, best known as the leading counsel for the defence in the 1916 treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
trial of Roger Casement
Roger Casement
Roger David Casement —Sir Roger Casement CMG between 1911 and shortly before his execution for treason, when he was stripped of his British honours—was an Irish patriot, poet, revolutionary, and nationalist....
.
A younger son of A M Sullivan
Alexander Martin Sullivan (Irish politician)
Alexander Martin Sullivan was an Irish politician, lawyer and journalist from Bantry, County Cork.He was the son of Daniel and Ann Sullivan, and brother to Timothy Daniel Sullivan, who was Lord Mayor of Dublin from 1886 to 1888....
, he was born in Dublin and educated at Ushaw College
Ushaw College
Ushaw College was a Roman Catholic seminary near Durham, England that closed in 2011. Ushaw was the principal seminary in the north of England for the training of Catholic priests.-History:...
, Belvedere College
Belvedere College
Belvedere College SJ is a private secondary school for boys located on Great Denmark Street, Dublin, Ireland. It is also known as St. Francis Xavier's College....
, Trinity College Dublin and Kings Inns. Sullivan was called to the Irish Bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1892 and practiced on the Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
Circuit. He was appointed an Irish KC in 1908 and King's Third Serjeant at Law in Ireland in 1912 advancing to Second Serjeant in 1913 and First Serjeant in 1921 - the last holder of that position.
A moderate constitutional nationalist
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
and supporter of the Irish Parliamentary Party
Irish Parliamentary Party
The Irish Parliamentary Party was formed in 1882 by Charles Stewart Parnell, the leader of the Nationalist Party, replacing the Home Rule League, as official parliamentary party for Irish nationalist Members of Parliament elected to the House of Commons at...
, Sullivan was a prominent campaigner for Irish recruitment during the First World War. His opposition to Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
republicanism and his prominent role in conducting prosecutions on behalf of the Crown during the Troubles led to at least one attempt on his life. As a result, Sullivan relocated to England in 1921 and established a career at the English Bar, having been called by Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
in 1899. He subsequently became a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
and Treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
of Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. He ceased practising law in 1949.
Sullivan was considered one of the most formidable advocates of his generation. In addition to his legal career, Sullivan authored of two books: Old Ireland in 1927 and The Last Serjeant in 1952.