John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell
Encyclopedia
John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell PC (Ire)
KC SL
(8 June 1739 – 23 May 1798), known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge. Sometimes known as "Copperfaced Jack", he was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
from 1784 to 1789.
, Co. Kilkenny. On both sides of his parents he was a great-grandson of Nicholas Purcell (1651–1722), 13th Baron of Loughmoe
. His elder brother was the uncle of Bernard Phelan, who established Château Phélan Ségur
, and Dean John Scott, who first planted the gardens open to the public at Ballyin, Co. Waterford and married a niece of Clonmell's political ally, Henry Grattan
.
At school in Clonmel
John Scott stood up to the tormentor of a boy named Hugh Carleton, who grew up to be Viscount Carleton of Clare
. They became firm friends, and Carleton's father–Francis Carleton (1713–1791)–known as the 'King of Cork' for his opulence and respectability, invited him to their home and became Scott's patron. In 1756 Mr Carleton sent both the young men off, with equal allowances, to study at Trinity College, Dublin
and the Middle Temple
in London
.
On being called to the Irish bar in 1765, Scott's eloquence secured him a position that enabled him to pay £300 a year to his patron, Francis Carleton, who through a series of disappointments had at the same time as Scott's success been declared bankrupt. He continued to support him until Hugh Carleton was financially able to insist that he take up the payments.
for Mullingar
, a seat he held until 1783. The following year he was made a K.C. In 1772 he was Counsel to the Board of Revenue. In 1774 he was appointed Solicitor-General
(1774–1777) for Ireland. Three years later, he was elected a Privy Councillor and Attorney-General for Ireland
(1774–1783). He was dismissed from the latter position in 1782 for refusing to acknowledge the right of England
to legislate for Ireland
. In 1775, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Trinity College, Dublin. He held the office of Prime Serjeant-at-Law
of Ireland between 1777 and 1782. He was Clerk of the Pleas of the Court of the Exchequer in 1783 and was elected Member of Parliament for Portarlington
between 1783 and 1784.
In 1784, Scott was created 1st Baron Earlsfort of Lisson-Earl, Co. Tipperary, following his appointment to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In 1789 he was created 1st Viscount Clonmel, of Clonmel
, Co. Tipperary and in 1793 he was created 1st Earl of Clonmel. By the 1790s he had an annual income of £20,000.
In 1797, in the last conversation he would have with his wife's cousin, Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
, he exclaimed: 'My dear Val, I have been a fortunate man in life. I am a Chief Justice and an Earl; but, believe me, I would rather be beginning the world as a young (chimney) sweep.' He died the following year on 23 May 1798.
. Clonmell Street in Dublin is named in his honour, as is Earlsfort Terrace, also in Dublin. He had also gained a reputation of being an experienced duellist.
In 1768, he married the widowed Mrs Catherine Anna Maria Roe (d. 1771), daughter of Thomas Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, co. Tipperary
, and sister of the 1st Earl Landaff. In 1779, he married Margaret Lawless (1763–1829), daughter and eventual heiress of Patrick Lawless, of Dublin, Banker. He left a son and heir and a daughter by his second marriage.
M. J. Craig said of Scott's diary - 'Parts of the diary are extremely funny, but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.' Scott was a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt of many John Philpot Curran
jokes. He was also the subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, 'Copperfaced Jack' (1963).
John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell PC (Ire)
KC SL
(8 June 1739 – 23 May 1798), known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge. Sometimes known as "Copperfaced Jack", he was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
from 1784 to 1789.
, Co. Kilkenny. On both sides of his parents he was a great-grandson of Nicholas Purcell (1651–1722), 13th Baron of Loughmoe
. His elder brother was the uncle of Bernard Phelan, who established Château Phélan Ségur
, and Dean John Scott, who first planted the gardens open to the public at Ballyin, Co. Waterford and married a niece of Clonmell's political ally, Henry Grattan
.
At school in Clonmel
John Scott stood up to the tormentor of a boy named Hugh Carleton, who grew up to be Viscount Carleton of Clare
. They became firm friends, and Carleton's father–Francis Carleton (1713–1791)–known as the 'King of Cork' for his opulence and respectability, invited him to their home and became Scott's patron. In 1756 Mr Carleton sent both the young men off, with equal allowances, to study at Trinity College, Dublin
and the Middle Temple
in London
.
On being called to the Irish bar in 1765, Scott's eloquence secured him a position that enabled him to pay £300 a year to his patron, Francis Carleton, who through a series of disappointments had at the same time as Scott's success been declared bankrupt. He continued to support him until Hugh Carleton was financially able to insist that he take up the payments.
for Mullingar
, a seat he held until 1783. The following year he was made a K.C. In 1772 he was Counsel to the Board of Revenue. In 1774 he was appointed Solicitor-General
(1774–1777) for Ireland. Three years later, he was elected a Privy Councillor and Attorney-General for Ireland
(1774–1783). He was dismissed from the latter position in 1782 for refusing to acknowledge the right of England
to legislate for Ireland
. In 1775, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Trinity College, Dublin. He held the office of Prime Serjeant-at-Law
of Ireland between 1777 and 1782. He was Clerk of the Pleas of the Court of the Exchequer in 1783 and was elected Member of Parliament for Portarlington
between 1783 and 1784.
In 1784, Scott was created 1st Baron Earlsfort of Lisson-Earl, Co. Tipperary, following his appointment to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In 1789 he was created 1st Viscount Clonmel, of Clonmel
, Co. Tipperary and in 1793 he was created 1st Earl of Clonmel. By the 1790s he had an annual income of £20,000.
In 1797, in the last conversation he would have with his wife's cousin, Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
, he exclaimed: 'My dear Val, I have been a fortunate man in life. I am a Chief Justice and an Earl; but, believe me, I would rather be beginning the world as a young (chimney) sweep.' He died the following year on 23 May 1798.
. Clonmell Street in Dublin is named in his honour, as is Earlsfort Terrace, also in Dublin. He had also gained a reputation of being an experienced duellist.
In 1768, he married the widowed Mrs Catherine Anna Maria Roe (d. 1771), daughter of Thomas Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, co. Tipperary
, and sister of the 1st Earl Landaff. In 1779, he married Margaret Lawless (1763–1829), daughter and eventual heiress of Patrick Lawless, of Dublin, Banker. He left a son and heir and a daughter by his second marriage.
M. J. Craig said of Scott's diary - 'Parts of the diary are extremely funny, but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.' Scott was a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt of many John Philpot Curran
jokes. He was also the subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, 'Copperfaced Jack' (1963).
John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell PC (Ire)
KC SL
(8 June 1739 – 23 May 1798), known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge. Sometimes known as "Copperfaced Jack", he was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
from 1784 to 1789.
, Co. Kilkenny. On both sides of his parents he was a great-grandson of Nicholas Purcell (1651–1722), 13th Baron of Loughmoe
. His elder brother was the uncle of Bernard Phelan, who established Château Phélan Ségur
, and Dean John Scott, who first planted the gardens open to the public at Ballyin, Co. Waterford and married a niece of Clonmell's political ally, Henry Grattan
.
At school in Clonmel
John Scott stood up to the tormentor of a boy named Hugh Carleton, who grew up to be Viscount Carleton of Clare
. They became firm friends, and Carleton's father–Francis Carleton (1713–1791)–known as the 'King of Cork' for his opulence and respectability, invited him to their home and became Scott's patron. In 1756 Mr Carleton sent both the young men off, with equal allowances, to study at Trinity College, Dublin
and the Middle Temple
in London
.
On being called to the Irish bar in 1765, Scott's eloquence secured him a position that enabled him to pay £300 a year to his patron, Francis Carleton, who through a series of disappointments had at the same time as Scott's success been declared bankrupt. He continued to support him until Hugh Carleton was financially able to insist that he take up the payments.
for Mullingar
, a seat he held until 1783. The following year he was made a K.C. In 1772 he was Counsel to the Board of Revenue. In 1774 he was appointed Solicitor-General
(1774–1777) for Ireland. Three years later, he was elected a Privy Councillor and Attorney-General for Ireland
(1774–1783). He was dismissed from the latter position in 1782 for refusing to acknowledge the right of England
to legislate for Ireland
. In 1775, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Trinity College, Dublin. He held the office of Prime Serjeant-at-Law
of Ireland between 1777 and 1782. He was Clerk of the Pleas of the Court of the Exchequer in 1783 and was elected Member of Parliament for Portarlington
between 1783 and 1784.
In 1784, Scott was created 1st Baron Earlsfort of Lisson-Earl, Co. Tipperary, following his appointment to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In 1789 he was created 1st Viscount Clonmel, of Clonmel
, Co. Tipperary and in 1793 he was created 1st Earl of Clonmel. By the 1790s he had an annual income of £20,000.
In 1797, in the last conversation he would have with his wife's cousin, Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
, he exclaimed: 'My dear Val, I have been a fortunate man in life. I am a Chief Justice and an Earl; but, believe me, I would rather be beginning the world as a young (chimney) sweep.' He died the following year on 23 May 1798.
. Clonmell Street in Dublin is named in his honour, as is Earlsfort Terrace, also in Dublin. He had also gained a reputation of being an experienced duellist.
In 1768, he married the widowed Mrs Catherine Anna Maria Roe (d. 1771), daughter of Thomas Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, co. Tipperary
, and sister of the 1st Earl Landaff. In 1779, he married Margaret Lawless (1763–1829), daughter and eventual heiress of Patrick Lawless, of Dublin, Banker. He left a son and heir and a daughter by his second marriage.
M. J. Craig said of Scott's diary - 'Parts of the diary are extremely funny, but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.' Scott was a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt of many John Philpot Curran
jokes. He was also the subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, 'Copperfaced Jack' (1963).
|-
|-
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...
KC SL
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
(8 June 1739 – 23 May 1798), known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge. Sometimes known as "Copperfaced Jack", he was 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 1784 to 1789.
Early life
Scott was the third son of Thomas Scott (d. 1763) of Scottsborough (made up of the estates of Mohubber, Modeshill and Urlings), Co. Tipperary, by his wife, Rachel (d. 1784), daughter of Mark Prim (d. 1745) of JohnswellJohnswell
Johnswell is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland.On the village green is a powerful spring and well dedicated to John the Baptist which was traditionally the venue for a local "pattern" of note, while the moat north of the village was the site of St John's Eve bonfires.- See also :* List of...
, Co. Kilkenny. On both sides of his parents he was a great-grandson of Nicholas Purcell (1651–1722), 13th Baron of Loughmoe
Nicholas Purcell of Loughmoe
Nicholas Purcell, 13th Baron of Loughmoe was the son of James Purcell of Loughmoe and the maternal nephew of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde....
. His elder brother was the uncle of Bernard Phelan, who established Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur lies in the commune of Saint-Estèphe in the Bordeaux region of France, neighbouring vineyards Château Calon-Ségur and Château Montrose. In a 2003 Cru Bourgeois classification revision, it was listed as one of 9 Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels.A second wine is produced since 1986,...
, and Dean John Scott, who first planted the gardens open to the public at Ballyin, Co. Waterford and married a niece of Clonmell's political ally, Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
.
At school in Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
John Scott stood up to the tormentor of a boy named Hugh Carleton, who grew up to be Viscount Carleton of Clare
Viscount Carleton of Clare
Hugh Carleton, 1st Viscount Carleton PC SL , was an Irish judge.- Early life :Carleton was born in Cork city, son of Francis Carleton and Rebecca Lawton. His father was a wealthy merchant from a family which settled in Cork in the time of Charles I; he was also a powerful local politician,...
. They became firm friends, and Carleton's father–Francis Carleton (1713–1791)–known as the 'King of Cork' for his opulence and respectability, invited him to their home and became Scott's patron. In 1756 Mr Carleton sent both the young men off, with equal allowances, to study 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...
and 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...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
On being called to the Irish bar in 1765, Scott's eloquence secured him a position that enabled him to pay £300 a year to his patron, Francis Carleton, who through a series of disappointments had at the same time as Scott's success been declared bankrupt. He continued to support him until Hugh Carleton was financially able to insist that he take up the payments.
Career
Admitted to King's Inn in 1765, he was entitled to practice as a Barrister. In 1769 he was elected as the 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 Mullingar
Mullingar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Mullingar was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1612 to 1800.-1692–1801:...
, a seat he held until 1783. The following year he was made a K.C. In 1772 he was Counsel to the Board of Revenue. In 1774 he was appointed Solicitor-General
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...
(1774–1777) for Ireland. Three years later, he was elected a Privy Councillor and 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...
(1774–1783). He was dismissed from the latter position in 1782 for refusing to acknowledge the right of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to legislate for Ireland
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...
. In 1775, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Trinity College, Dublin. He held the office of Prime Serjeant-at-Law
Serjeant-at-law (Ireland)
This is a list of lawyers who held the rank of serjeant-at-law at the Irish Bar.Unlike in England, for many years there was only one Serjeant-at-Law in Ireland, who was known as the King’s Serjeant or simply Serjeant. In 1627 another was appointed, and they were known as the Prime Serjeant and...
of Ireland between 1777 and 1782. He was Clerk of the Pleas of the Court of the Exchequer in 1783 and was elected Member of Parliament for Portarlington
Portarlington (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Portarlington was a parliamentary borough partly in King's County but mostly in Queen's County...
between 1783 and 1784.
In 1784, Scott was created 1st Baron Earlsfort of Lisson-Earl, Co. Tipperary, following his appointment to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In 1789 he was created 1st Viscount Clonmel, of Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, Co. Tipperary and in 1793 he was created 1st Earl of Clonmel. By the 1790s he had an annual income of £20,000.
In 1797, in the last conversation he would have with his wife's cousin, Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Brown Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry , was an Irish politician and landowner. He lived in Lyons, under Lyons Hill Ardclough County Kildare.-Birth:...
, he exclaimed: 'My dear Val, I have been a fortunate man in life. I am a Chief Justice and an Earl; but, believe me, I would rather be beginning the world as a young (chimney) sweep.' He died the following year on 23 May 1798.
Legacy
Scott lived at Clonmel House, 17 Harcourt Street, Dublin. He also kept a country residence, Temple Hill House, in County DublinCounty 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...
. Clonmell Street in Dublin is named in his honour, as is Earlsfort Terrace, also in Dublin. He had also gained a reputation of being an experienced duellist.
In 1768, he married the widowed Mrs Catherine Anna Maria Roe (d. 1771), daughter of Thomas Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, co. Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, and sister of the 1st Earl Landaff. In 1779, he married Margaret Lawless (1763–1829), daughter and eventual heiress of Patrick Lawless, of Dublin, Banker. He left a son and heir and a daughter by his second marriage.
M. J. Craig said of Scott's diary - 'Parts of the diary are extremely funny, but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.' Scott was a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt of many John Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran was an Irish orator, politician and wit, born in Newmarket, County Cork. He was the son of James and Sarah Curran.-Career:...
jokes. He was also the subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, 'Copperfaced Jack' (1963).
External links
- Portrait of the Earl of Clonmell
- Portrait of Scott, by Gilbert Charles Stuart
- Journal of the Waterford & the South East of Ireland Archeological Society, Page 199
John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell PC (Ire)
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...
KC SL
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
(8 June 1739 – 23 May 1798), known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge. Sometimes known as "Copperfaced Jack", he was 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 1784 to 1789.
Early life
Scott was the third son of Thomas Scott (d. 1763) of Scottsborough (made up of the estates of Mohubber, Modeshill and Urlings), Co. Tipperary, by his wife, Rachel (d. 1784), daughter of Mark Prim (d. 1745) of JohnswellJohnswell
Johnswell is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland.On the village green is a powerful spring and well dedicated to John the Baptist which was traditionally the venue for a local "pattern" of note, while the moat north of the village was the site of St John's Eve bonfires.- See also :* List of...
, Co. Kilkenny. On both sides of his parents he was a great-grandson of Nicholas Purcell (1651–1722), 13th Baron of Loughmoe
Nicholas Purcell of Loughmoe
Nicholas Purcell, 13th Baron of Loughmoe was the son of James Purcell of Loughmoe and the maternal nephew of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde....
. His elder brother was the uncle of Bernard Phelan, who established Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur lies in the commune of Saint-Estèphe in the Bordeaux region of France, neighbouring vineyards Château Calon-Ségur and Château Montrose. In a 2003 Cru Bourgeois classification revision, it was listed as one of 9 Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels.A second wine is produced since 1986,...
, and Dean John Scott, who first planted the gardens open to the public at Ballyin, Co. Waterford and married a niece of Clonmell's political ally, Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
.
At school in Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
John Scott stood up to the tormentor of a boy named Hugh Carleton, who grew up to be Viscount Carleton of Clare
Viscount Carleton of Clare
Hugh Carleton, 1st Viscount Carleton PC SL , was an Irish judge.- Early life :Carleton was born in Cork city, son of Francis Carleton and Rebecca Lawton. His father was a wealthy merchant from a family which settled in Cork in the time of Charles I; he was also a powerful local politician,...
. They became firm friends, and Carleton's father–Francis Carleton (1713–1791)–known as the 'King of Cork' for his opulence and respectability, invited him to their home and became Scott's patron. In 1756 Mr Carleton sent both the young men off, with equal allowances, to study 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...
and 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...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
On being called to the Irish bar in 1765, Scott's eloquence secured him a position that enabled him to pay £300 a year to his patron, Francis Carleton, who through a series of disappointments had at the same time as Scott's success been declared bankrupt. He continued to support him until Hugh Carleton was financially able to insist that he take up the payments.
Career
Admitted to King's Inn in 1765, he was entitled to practice as a Barrister. In 1769 he was elected as the 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 Mullingar
Mullingar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Mullingar was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1612 to 1800.-1692–1801:...
, a seat he held until 1783. The following year he was made a K.C. In 1772 he was Counsel to the Board of Revenue. In 1774 he was appointed Solicitor-General
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...
(1774–1777) for Ireland. Three years later, he was elected a Privy Councillor and 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...
(1774–1783). He was dismissed from the latter position in 1782 for refusing to acknowledge the right of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to legislate for Ireland
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...
. In 1775, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Trinity College, Dublin. He held the office of Prime Serjeant-at-Law
Serjeant-at-law (Ireland)
This is a list of lawyers who held the rank of serjeant-at-law at the Irish Bar.Unlike in England, for many years there was only one Serjeant-at-Law in Ireland, who was known as the King’s Serjeant or simply Serjeant. In 1627 another was appointed, and they were known as the Prime Serjeant and...
of Ireland between 1777 and 1782. He was Clerk of the Pleas of the Court of the Exchequer in 1783 and was elected Member of Parliament for Portarlington
Portarlington (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Portarlington was a parliamentary borough partly in King's County but mostly in Queen's County...
between 1783 and 1784.
In 1784, Scott was created 1st Baron Earlsfort of Lisson-Earl, Co. Tipperary, following his appointment to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In 1789 he was created 1st Viscount Clonmel, of Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, Co. Tipperary and in 1793 he was created 1st Earl of Clonmel. By the 1790s he had an annual income of £20,000.
In 1797, in the last conversation he would have with his wife's cousin, Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Brown Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry , was an Irish politician and landowner. He lived in Lyons, under Lyons Hill Ardclough County Kildare.-Birth:...
, he exclaimed: 'My dear Val, I have been a fortunate man in life. I am a Chief Justice and an Earl; but, believe me, I would rather be beginning the world as a young (chimney) sweep.' He died the following year on 23 May 1798.
Legacy
Scott lived at Clonmel House, 17 Harcourt Street, Dublin. He also kept a country residence, Temple Hill House, in County DublinCounty 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...
. Clonmell Street in Dublin is named in his honour, as is Earlsfort Terrace, also in Dublin. He had also gained a reputation of being an experienced duellist.
In 1768, he married the widowed Mrs Catherine Anna Maria Roe (d. 1771), daughter of Thomas Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, co. Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, and sister of the 1st Earl Landaff. In 1779, he married Margaret Lawless (1763–1829), daughter and eventual heiress of Patrick Lawless, of Dublin, Banker. He left a son and heir and a daughter by his second marriage.
M. J. Craig said of Scott's diary - 'Parts of the diary are extremely funny, but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.' Scott was a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt of many John Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran was an Irish orator, politician and wit, born in Newmarket, County Cork. He was the son of James and Sarah Curran.-Career:...
jokes. He was also the subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, 'Copperfaced Jack' (1963).
External links
- Portrait of the Earl of Clonmell
- Portrait of Scott, by Gilbert Charles Stuart
- Journal of the Waterford & the South East of Ireland Archeological Society, Page 199
John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell PC (Ire)
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...
KC SL
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
(8 June 1739 – 23 May 1798), known as The Lord Earlsfort between 1784 and 1789 and as The Viscount Clonmell between 1789 and 1793, was an Irish barrister and judge. Sometimes known as "Copperfaced Jack", he was 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 1784 to 1789.
Early life
Scott was the third son of Thomas Scott (d. 1763) of Scottsborough (made up of the estates of Mohubber, Modeshill and Urlings), Co. Tipperary, by his wife, Rachel (d. 1784), daughter of Mark Prim (d. 1745) of JohnswellJohnswell
Johnswell is a village in County Kilkenny, Ireland.On the village green is a powerful spring and well dedicated to John the Baptist which was traditionally the venue for a local "pattern" of note, while the moat north of the village was the site of St John's Eve bonfires.- See also :* List of...
, Co. Kilkenny. On both sides of his parents he was a great-grandson of Nicholas Purcell (1651–1722), 13th Baron of Loughmoe
Nicholas Purcell of Loughmoe
Nicholas Purcell, 13th Baron of Loughmoe was the son of James Purcell of Loughmoe and the maternal nephew of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde....
. His elder brother was the uncle of Bernard Phelan, who established Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur lies in the commune of Saint-Estèphe in the Bordeaux region of France, neighbouring vineyards Château Calon-Ségur and Château Montrose. In a 2003 Cru Bourgeois classification revision, it was listed as one of 9 Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels.A second wine is produced since 1986,...
, and Dean John Scott, who first planted the gardens open to the public at Ballyin, Co. Waterford and married a niece of Clonmell's political ally, Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
.
At school in Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
John Scott stood up to the tormentor of a boy named Hugh Carleton, who grew up to be Viscount Carleton of Clare
Viscount Carleton of Clare
Hugh Carleton, 1st Viscount Carleton PC SL , was an Irish judge.- Early life :Carleton was born in Cork city, son of Francis Carleton and Rebecca Lawton. His father was a wealthy merchant from a family which settled in Cork in the time of Charles I; he was also a powerful local politician,...
. They became firm friends, and Carleton's father–Francis Carleton (1713–1791)–known as the 'King of Cork' for his opulence and respectability, invited him to their home and became Scott's patron. In 1756 Mr Carleton sent both the young men off, with equal allowances, to study 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...
and 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...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
On being called to the Irish bar in 1765, Scott's eloquence secured him a position that enabled him to pay £300 a year to his patron, Francis Carleton, who through a series of disappointments had at the same time as Scott's success been declared bankrupt. He continued to support him until Hugh Carleton was financially able to insist that he take up the payments.
Career
Admitted to King's Inn in 1765, he was entitled to practice as a Barrister. In 1769 he was elected as the 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 Mullingar
Mullingar (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Mullingar was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1612 to 1800.-1692–1801:...
, a seat he held until 1783. The following year he was made a K.C. In 1772 he was Counsel to the Board of Revenue. In 1774 he was appointed Solicitor-General
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...
(1774–1777) for Ireland. Three years later, he was elected a Privy Councillor and 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...
(1774–1783). He was dismissed from the latter position in 1782 for refusing to acknowledge the right of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
to legislate for Ireland
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...
. In 1775, he was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Law (LL.D.) by Trinity College, Dublin. He held the office of Prime Serjeant-at-Law
Serjeant-at-law (Ireland)
This is a list of lawyers who held the rank of serjeant-at-law at the Irish Bar.Unlike in England, for many years there was only one Serjeant-at-Law in Ireland, who was known as the King’s Serjeant or simply Serjeant. In 1627 another was appointed, and they were known as the Prime Serjeant and...
of Ireland between 1777 and 1782. He was Clerk of the Pleas of the Court of the Exchequer in 1783 and was elected Member of Parliament for Portarlington
Portarlington (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Portarlington was a parliamentary borough partly in King's County but mostly in Queen's County...
between 1783 and 1784.
In 1784, Scott was created 1st Baron Earlsfort of Lisson-Earl, Co. Tipperary, following his appointment to Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. In 1789 he was created 1st Viscount Clonmel, of Clonmel
Clonmel
Clonmel is the county town of South Tipperary in Ireland. It is the largest town in the county. While the borough had a population of 15,482 in 2006, another 17,008 people were in the rural hinterland. The town is noted in Irish history for its resistance to the Cromwellian army which sacked both...
, Co. Tipperary and in 1793 he was created 1st Earl of Clonmel. By the 1790s he had an annual income of £20,000.
In 1797, in the last conversation he would have with his wife's cousin, Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry
Valentine Brown Lawless, 2nd Baron Cloncurry , was an Irish politician and landowner. He lived in Lyons, under Lyons Hill Ardclough County Kildare.-Birth:...
, he exclaimed: 'My dear Val, I have been a fortunate man in life. I am a Chief Justice and an Earl; but, believe me, I would rather be beginning the world as a young (chimney) sweep.' He died the following year on 23 May 1798.
Legacy
Scott lived at Clonmel House, 17 Harcourt Street, Dublin. He also kept a country residence, Temple Hill House, in County DublinCounty 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...
. Clonmell Street in Dublin is named in his honour, as is Earlsfort Terrace, also in Dublin. He had also gained a reputation of being an experienced duellist.
In 1768, he married the widowed Mrs Catherine Anna Maria Roe (d. 1771), daughter of Thomas Mathew, of Thomastown Castle, co. Tipperary
Tipperary
Tipperary is a town and a civil parish in South Tipperary in Ireland. Its population was 4,415 at the 2006 census. It is also an ecclesiastical parish in the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cashel and Emly, and is in the historical barony of Clanwilliam....
, and sister of the 1st Earl Landaff. In 1779, he married Margaret Lawless (1763–1829), daughter and eventual heiress of Patrick Lawless, of Dublin, Banker. He left a son and heir and a daughter by his second marriage.
M. J. Craig said of Scott's diary - 'Parts of the diary are extremely funny, but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.' Scott was a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt of many John Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran
John Philpot Curran was an Irish orator, politician and wit, born in Newmarket, County Cork. He was the son of James and Sarah Curran.-Career:...
jokes. He was also the subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, 'Copperfaced Jack' (1963).
External links
- Portrait of the Earl of Clonmell
- Portrait of Scott, by Gilbert Charles Stuart
- Journal of the Waterford & the South East of Ireland Archeological Society, Page 199
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