F Elrington Ball
Encyclopedia
Francis Elrington Ball (1863 – 1928) was an Irish
author and legal historian
, best known for his work The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 (1926).
(1815 to 1898), the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
from 1875 to 1881, Ball was unsuccessful in seeking election (as a Unionist) to Parliament at a by-election in South Dublin
at an 1890 bye-election. His father had represented Dublin University
in Parliament from 1868 to 1875.
Ball is, however, best known for his scholarship, particularly for his work on Swift
, the local history of Dublin and on the history of the judiciary in Ireland from 1221 to 1921. The destruction in 1922, during the Irish Civil War
, of the Four Courts
and the public records and legal archives it contained (especially those of the Irish Public Records Office) made Ball's prior research into the history of the Irish judiciary up to 1921 particularly valuable to later scholars. The review published in the Irish Law Times & Solicitors' Journal described it as "a truly marvellous condensation of judicial history involving the exhaustive study of a long period, the earlier part of which was hitherto obscure." (Anon (1927) p 4)
The same review characterised Ball as "a writer of great care and accuracy, whose work is always characterised by minute and diligent research." (ibid).
Ball was also a governor of the Blue Coat School
, Oxmantown
, Dublin.
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...
author and legal historian
Legal history
Legal history or the history of law is the study of how law has evolved and why it changed. Legal history is closely connected to the development of civilizations and is set in the wider context of social history...
, best known for his work The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 (1926).
Life
A younger son of John Thomas BallJohn Thomas Ball
John Thomas Ball QC was an Irish barrister and politician in the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland....
(1815 to 1898), the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
from 1875 to 1881, Ball was unsuccessful in seeking election (as a Unionist) to Parliament at a by-election in South Dublin
South Dublin (UK Parliament constituency)
South Dublin was a county constituency in Ireland from 1885 to 1922. It elected one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, using the first past the post voting system....
at an 1890 bye-election. His father had represented Dublin University
Dublin University (constituency)
University of Dublin is a university constituency in Ireland, which has been used to elect members of various legislative bodies including currently Seanad Éireann. Alternative names are Dublin University or Trinity College, Dublin...
in Parliament from 1868 to 1875.
Ball is, however, best known for his scholarship, particularly for his work on Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, the local history of Dublin and on the history of the judiciary in Ireland from 1221 to 1921. The destruction in 1922, during the Irish Civil War
Irish Civil War
The Irish Civil War was a conflict that accompanied the establishment of the Irish Free State as an entity independent from the United Kingdom within the British Empire....
, of the Four Courts
Four Courts
The Four Courts in Dublin is the Republic of Ireland's main courts building. The Four Courts are the location of the Supreme Court, the High Court and the Dublin Circuit Court. The building until 2010 also formerly was the location for the Central Criminal Court.-Gandon's Building:Work based on...
and the public records and legal archives it contained (especially those of the Irish Public Records Office) made Ball's prior research into the history of the Irish judiciary up to 1921 particularly valuable to later scholars. The review published in the Irish Law Times & Solicitors' Journal described it as "a truly marvellous condensation of judicial history involving the exhaustive study of a long period, the earlier part of which was hitherto obscure." (Anon (1927) p 4)
The same review characterised Ball as "a writer of great care and accuracy, whose work is always characterised by minute and diligent research." (ibid).
Ball was also a governor of the Blue Coat School
The King's Hospital
The King's Hospital is a Church of Ireland co-educational fee-paying boarding and day school situated in Palmerstown, Dublin, Ireland.Founded in 1669, it is one of the oldest schools in Ireland and was also known as the Blue Coat School....
, Oxmantown
Oxmantown
Oxmantown or Oxmanstown is an area of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Northside of the city between the River Liffey, the North Circular Road, and Smithfield Market...
, Dublin.