Charles Kendal Bushe
Encyclopedia
Charles Kendal Bushe was an Irish lawyer and judge. Known as "silver-tongued Bushe", he was Solicitor-General for Ireland
from 1805 to 1822 and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
from 1822 to 1841.
, the only son of the Reverend Thomas Bushe and his wife Katherine Doyle. He graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar
in 1790.
from 1796 to 1799 and Donegal Borough
from 1799 to 1800. He was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
in 1805 and held the office for 17 years until in 1822 he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
(although only after William Saurin
, the equally long-serving Attorney-General had refused the position). He retired in 1841.
As an advocate "silver-tongued Bushe" was legendary for his eloquence; as a judge according to Elrington Ball he did not live up to expectations. As a politician he was often accused of double-dealing: opposing the Act of Union
but accepting office afterwards and supporting Catholic Emancipation
while prosecuting Catholic supporters of the same cause for sedition. In Dublin, he was a member of Daly's Club
.
and was mother of William Plunket, 4th Baron Plunket, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin. Dunbar Plunket Barton
, a leading judge of the early 1900s, was descended from Bushe.
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...
from 1805 to 1822 and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
The Court of King's Bench was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England...
from 1822 to 1841.
Background and education
Bushe was born at Kilmurry, County KilkennyCounty Kilkenny
County Kilkenny is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Kilkenny. The territory of the county was the core part of the ancient Irish Kingdom of Osraige which in turn was the core of the Diocese of...
, the only son of the Reverend Thomas Bushe and his wife Katherine Doyle. He graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1790.
Legal and judicial career
Bushe was a member of the Irish Parliament for CallanCallan (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Callan was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Callan was represented with two members.-1689–1801:-Bibliography:...
from 1796 to 1799 and Donegal Borough
Donegal Borough (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Donegal Borough was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800. It is now represented in the Dáil.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Donegal Borough was not represented.-1689–1801:...
from 1799 to 1800. He was appointed 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...
in 1805 and held the office for 17 years until in 1822 he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
The Court of King's Bench was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England...
(although only after William Saurin
William Saurin
William Saurin was an Irish lawyer and politician. He was Attorney-General for Ireland from 1807 to 1822, and for much of that period effective head of the Irish administration.-Background and education:...
, the equally long-serving Attorney-General had refused the position). He retired in 1841.
As an advocate "silver-tongued Bushe" was legendary for his eloquence; as a judge according to Elrington Ball he did not live up to expectations. As a politician he was often accused of double-dealing: opposing the Act of Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
but accepting office afterwards and supporting Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
while prosecuting Catholic supporters of the same cause for sedition. In Dublin, he was a member of Daly's Club
Daly's Club
Daly's Club, with premises known as Daly's Club House, was a gentlemen's club in Dublin, Ireland, a centre of social and political life between its origins in about 1750 and its end in 1823.-History:...
.
Family
Bushe married Anne Crampton and they had five children; his daughter Charlotte married John Plunket, 3rd Baron PlunketJohn Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket
John Span Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket of Newtown, County Cork was a Queen's Counsel He married Charlotte, daughter of the eminent judge Charles Kendal Bushe.-Family:Children of John Span Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket of Newton...
and was mother of William Plunket, 4th Baron Plunket, Church of Ireland Archbishop of Dublin. Dunbar Plunket Barton
Dunbar Plunket Barton
Sir Dunbar Plunket Barton, 1st Baronet PC was an Irish politician, author and judge.Barton was descended from Chief Justice Charles Kendal Bushe; and from the co-founder of the celebrated wine merchants Barton and Guestier. His mother was the third daughter of John Plunket, 3rd Baron Plunket...
, a leading judge of the early 1900s, was descended from Bushe.