Charles Andrew O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Charles Andrew O'Connor PC (31 December 1854 – 18 October 1928) was an Irish judge, who served as the last Master of the Rolls in Ireland
.
and went then to Trinity College, Dublin
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
in 1876. In the same year he was admitted to the Middle Temple
and in 1877 became employed as an auditor at the College Historical Society. A year later O'Connor was called to the Irish bar by King's Inns
. In 1890 he obtained his Master of Arts.
after two years. He was nominated a First Serjeant-at-Law in 1907 and became Solicitor-General for Ireland
two years later. In 1911 he took over as Attorney-General for Ireland
, on whose occasion he was sworn of the Privy Council
. In the following year, he succeeded as Master of the Rolls in Ireland
, which he held until the establishment of the Irish Free State
in 1922. O'Connor resumed the position in the new state for the next two years until its abolishment in 1924. Subsequently he received an appointment as justice at the Supreme Court of the Irish Free State
, retiring after one year in 1925.
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland originated in the office of the keeper of the Rolls in the Irish Chancery and became an office granted by letters patent in 1333. It was abolished in 1924....
.
Background and education
Born the day before New Year 1855, he was the third son of Charles Andrew O'Connor. His mother Catherine was the daughter of C. G. Smyth. O'Connor was educated at St Stanislaus CollegeSt Stanislaus College
St Stanislaus College was a school in Tullabeg, County Offaly, Ireland. It was founded as a school for boys under the age of thirteen in 1818. It was endowed by the O'Briens, a local gentry family, and was intended to cater for upper middle class Catholics, as was the sister college at Clongowes...
and went then to Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1876. In the same year he was admitted to the 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...
and in 1877 became employed as an auditor at the College Historical Society. A year later O'Connor was called to the Irish bar by King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
. In 1890 he obtained his Master of Arts.
Judicial career
O'Connor was appointed a King's Counsel in 1894 and was chosen a bencherBencher
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...
after two years. He was nominated a First Serjeant-at-Law in 1907 and became Solicitor-General for Ireland
Solicitor-General for Ireland
The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
two years later. In 1911 he took over as Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
, on whose occasion he was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. In the following year, he succeeded as Master of the Rolls in Ireland
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland originated in the office of the keeper of the Rolls in the Irish Chancery and became an office granted by letters patent in 1333. It was abolished in 1924....
, which he held until the establishment of the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
in 1922. O'Connor resumed the position in the new state for the next two years until its abolishment in 1924. Subsequently he received an appointment as justice at the Supreme Court of the Irish Free State
Supreme Court of the Irish Free State
The Supreme Court of the Irish Free State was the state's Court of Final Appeal. It was created in Article 64 of the Irish Free State Constitution. It was presided over by a Chief Justice...
, retiring after one year in 1925.