Anthony Richard Blake
Encyclopedia
Anthony Richard Blake was an Irish lawyer
, administrator and 'backstairs Viceroy of Ireland'.
Blake, the second son of Martin Blake of Holly Park, Athenry
, was a member of the Tribes of Galway
. A granduncle was Anthony Blake, Archbishop of Armagh
. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
, London, on 13 May 1808. He became a protégé of Charles Butler
, collecting data on Irish catholic affairs for him during 1811-12, which led to Butler's recommending him to the catholic committee as press officer. in 1813 he was called to the Bar.
In 1821 Blake travelled to Ireland in the cabinet of Lord Wellesley
, being made Chief Remembrancer of the Exchequer of Ireland
two years later; this made him the first catholic to hold the post since the reformation
). This position enabled him to retain "a unique importance as adviser to British ministers and as their link with catholic interests in Ireland."
He was on generally good terms with Daniel O'Connell
, though the later was to accuse the government of using Blake as a token catholic. Blake's catholic enemies portrayed him as an ambitious layman
, with interests inimical to the church.
In 1828 he published "Thoughts upon the catholic question, by an Irish Roman Catholic" which analysed the Irish question and made a number of recommendations to the British government:
In 1831 he was a member of Lord Anglesey
's 'inner conclave', and helped develop the scheme of national education, particularly encouraging teacher training. He served on the Poor Law Inquiry of 1833, serving on committees on tithes, education and mortmain. He also played a role in the establishment of the Queen's Colleges in the late 1840s, a deeply divisive issue among Irish catholics.
Upon his death in January 1849, he left a substantial bequest to the national education system.
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...
, administrator and 'backstairs Viceroy of Ireland'.
Blake, the second son of Martin Blake of Holly Park, Athenry
Athenry
Athenry is a town in County Galway, Ireland. It lies east of Galway city, and one of the attractions of the town is its medieval castle. The town is also well-known by virtue of the song "The Fields of Athenry".-History:...
, was a member of the Tribes of Galway
Tribes of Galway
The Tribes of Galway were fourteen merchant families who dominated the political, commercial, and social life of the city of Galway in western Ireland between the mid-13th and late-19th centuries. They were the families of Athy, Blake, Bodkin, Browne, D'Arcy, Deane, Font, Ffrench, Joyce, Kirwan,...
. A granduncle was Anthony Blake, Archbishop of Armagh
Archbishop of Armagh
The Archbishop of Armagh is the title of the presiding ecclesiastical figure of each of the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland in the region around Armagh in Northern Ireland...
. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, London, on 13 May 1808. He became a protégé of Charles Butler
Charles Butler
Charles Butler KC was an English Roman Catholic lawyer and miscellaneous writer.-Biography:Charles Butler was born in London, the son of James Butler, a nephew of Alban Butler. He was educated at Douai. In 1769 he became apprenticed to the conveyancer John Maire, and subsequently to Matthew Duane...
, collecting data on Irish catholic affairs for him during 1811-12, which led to Butler's recommending him to the catholic committee as press officer. in 1813 he was called to the Bar.
In 1821 Blake travelled to Ireland in the cabinet of Lord Wellesley
Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator....
, being made Chief Remembrancer of the Exchequer of Ireland
Exchequer of Ireland
The Exchequer of Ireland was a body in the Kingdom of Ireland tasked with collecting royal revenue. Modelled on the English Exchequer, it was created in 1210 after John of England applied English law and legal structure to the Kingdom of Ireland...
two years later; this made him the first catholic to hold the post since the reformation
Reformation
- Movements :* Protestant Reformation, an attempt by Martin Luther to reform the Roman Catholic Church that resulted in a schism, and grew into a wider movement...
). This position enabled him to retain "a unique importance as adviser to British ministers and as their link with catholic interests in Ireland."
He was on generally good terms with Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
, though the later was to accuse the government of using Blake as a token catholic. Blake's catholic enemies portrayed him as an ambitious layman
Layman
A layperson or layman is a person who is not an expert in a given field of knowledge. The term originally meant a member of the laity, i.e. a non-clergymen, but over the centuries shifted in definition....
, with interests inimical to the church.
In 1828 he published "Thoughts upon the catholic question, by an Irish Roman Catholic" which analysed the Irish question and made a number of recommendations to the British government:
- - make an agreement with the VaticanHoly SeeThe Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
- - conciliate Irish catholic demands
- - provide for the poor
- - extend voter's franchise
In 1831 he was a member of Lord Anglesey
Henry Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey
Field Marshal Henry William Paget, 1st Marquess of Anglesey, KG, GCB, GCH, PC , styled Lord Paget between 1784 and 1812 and known as The Earl of Uxbridge between 1812 and 1815, was a British military leader and politician, now chiefly remembered for leading the charge of the heavy cavalry against...
's 'inner conclave', and helped develop the scheme of national education, particularly encouraging teacher training. He served on the Poor Law Inquiry of 1833, serving on committees on tithes, education and mortmain. He also played a role in the establishment of the Queen's Colleges in the late 1840s, a deeply divisive issue among Irish catholics.
Upon his death in January 1849, he left a substantial bequest to the national education system.