John Edward Walsh
Encyclopedia
John Edward Walsh PC
, QC
(12 November 1816 – 20 October 1869) was an Irish lawyer and Conservative
politician. He served as Attorney-General for Ireland
in 1865 and as Master of the Rolls in Ireland
from 1866 to 1870.
, County Dublin
, where his father, Robert Walsh
, was rector. He was educated at Bective College, and matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin
, in July, 1832. He graduated B.A. in 1836, obtaining a senior moderatorship in ethics and logics and gaining a gold medal. He was a distinguished speaker also at the College Historical Society
. Walsh was called to the Irish Bar
in 1839, and graduated LL.D. in his University in 1845. He published, in collaboration with Richard Nun, Q.C., a work on The Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace in Ireland, which was long a standard text-book on this subject. He was a reporter in the Court of Chancery from 1843 to 1852; was appointed Queen's Counsel
in 1857, and Crown Prosecutor for Dublin in 1859.
for Dublin University from 1866 to 1867 and served as Attorney-General for Ireland
from 25 July to 1 November 1866. He was sworn of the Irish Privy Council
on 17 August 1866. he left the House of Commons
when he was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland in 1867, an office he held until his death.
It seemed probable that a long and distinguished career lay before him, but it was not to be. In the autumn of 1869 he went on a tour to Italy, his health not being very robust. He contracted fever in the Roman Compagna and died at Paris
on his way home on 20 October.
He published in 1847 Ireland Sixty Years Ago, dealing with Grattan's Parliament and the first quarter of the 19th century, which was published originally as a series of articles in the Dublin University Magazine
. It was afterwards re-issued in 1877 as Ireland Ninety Years Ago.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(12 November 1816 – 20 October 1869) was an Irish lawyer and Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
politician. He served 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...
in 1865 and 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....
from 1866 to 1870.
Background and education
Walsh was born at FinglasFinglas
-See also:* List of towns and villages in Ireland* List of abbeys and priories in Ireland...
, County Dublin
County Dublin
County Dublin is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Dublin Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the city of Dublin which is the capital of Ireland. County Dublin was one of the first of the parts of Ireland to be shired by King John of England following the...
, where his father, Robert Walsh
Robert Walsh (Irish writer)
The Rev. Robert Walsh, M.D., LL.D, was an Irish clergyman, historian, writer and physician.-Life:Walsh was born in Waterford, Ireland, where many of his ancestors had been chief magistrates, in 1772. He entered Trinity College, Dublin on 2 November 1789, where he was a friend of Robert Emmet and...
, was rector. He was educated at Bective College, and matriculated at 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...
, in July, 1832. He graduated B.A. in 1836, obtaining a senior moderatorship in ethics and logics and gaining a gold medal. He was a distinguished speaker also at the College Historical Society
College Historical Society (Trinity College, Dublin)
The College Historical Society is one of two main debating societies at Trinity College, Dublin in Dublin, Ireland. It was established within the college in 1770, but traces its origins to the society founded by the philosopher Edmund Burke in Dublin in 1747...
. Walsh was called to the Irish Bar
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 1839, and graduated LL.D. in his University in 1845. He published, in collaboration with Richard Nun, Q.C., a work on The Powers and Duties of Justices of the Peace in Ireland, which was long a standard text-book on this subject. He was a reporter in the Court of Chancery from 1843 to 1852; was appointed Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1857, and Crown Prosecutor for Dublin in 1859.
Political, legal and judicial careers
Walsh was Member of ParliamentMember of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Dublin University from 1866 to 1867 and served 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...
from 25 July to 1 November 1866. He was sworn of the Irish Privy Council
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
on 17 August 1866. he left the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
when he was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland in 1867, an office he held until his death.
It seemed probable that a long and distinguished career lay before him, but it was not to be. In the autumn of 1869 he went on a tour to Italy, his health not being very robust. He contracted fever in the Roman Compagna and died at Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
on his way home on 20 October.
He published in 1847 Ireland Sixty Years Ago, dealing with Grattan's Parliament and the first quarter of the 19th century, which was published originally as a series of articles in the Dublin University Magazine
Dublin University Magazine
The Dublin University Magazine was an independent literary cultural and political magazine published in Dublin from 1833 to 1882. It started out as a magazine of political commentary but increasingly became devoted to literature.-Early days:...
. It was afterwards re-issued in 1877 as Ireland Ninety Years Ago.