Henry Singleton (judge)
Encyclopedia
Henry Singleton was an Irish judge, remembered now mainly for his friendship with Jonathan Swift
.
He was born in Drogheda
, son of John Singleton, Member of Parliament for the town. He went to school in Drogheda, graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1707. Like his father he sat in the Irish House of Commons
for Drogheda
and narrowly missed becoming speaker; he was also Recorder of Drogheda and became prime sergeant in 1726. He was raised to the Bench as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland in 1740
Within a few years however his health began to fail, despite frequent visits to Bath and Spa in the hope of a cure. Despite pressure from William Yorke
, who was anxious to succeed him, he was reluctant to step down; eventually in 1753 he resigned; the following year he became Master of the Rolls in Ireland ( then a sinecure rather than the senior judicial office it became later).He held the Mastership until he died unmarried in 1759.
Despite a rather haughty manner, Singelton was universally liked and respected. He enjoyed the friendship of Jonathan Swift
, who called him " the first of the worthiest " and appointed him his executor. Yorke, his successor as Chief Justice, even while nudging him towards retiremennt, had nothing but praise for Singleton as man and judge.The best tribute to his character is his conduct during the great Irish Famine (1740–1741) when he donated very large sums of money for relief of the poor.
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
.
He was born in Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, son of John Singleton, Member of Parliament for the town. He went to school in Drogheda, graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1707. Like his father he sat in the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
for Drogheda
Drogheda (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Drogheda was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1801.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Drogheda was represented with two members.-Members of Parliament, 1264–1801:*1661: Moyses Hill...
and narrowly missed becoming speaker; he was also Recorder of Drogheda and became prime sergeant in 1726. He was raised to the Bench as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland in 1740
Within a few years however his health began to fail, despite frequent visits to Bath and Spa in the hope of a cure. Despite pressure from William Yorke
William Yorke
William Yorke was an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1654 and 1666....
, who was anxious to succeed him, he was reluctant to step down; eventually in 1753 he resigned; the following year he became Master of the Rolls in Ireland ( then a sinecure rather than the senior judicial office it became later).He held the Mastership until he died unmarried in 1759.
Despite a rather haughty manner, Singelton was universally liked and respected. He enjoyed the friendship of Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, who called him " the first of the worthiest " and appointed him his executor. Yorke, his successor as Chief Justice, even while nudging him towards retiremennt, had nothing but praise for Singleton as man and judge.The best tribute to his character is his conduct during the great Irish Famine (1740–1741) when he donated very large sums of money for relief of the poor.