Joseph Napier
Encyclopedia
Sir Joseph Napier, 1st Baronet (26 December 1804 – 9 December 1882) was an Irish Conservative Party
Member of Parliament
(MP) in the United Kingdom Parliament and subsequently Lord Chancellor of Ireland
.
He was the son of William Napier and Rosetta MacNaghten and was born in Belfast
, Ireland
. He attended the Belfast Academical Institution and Trinity College, Dublin
, before being called to the Irish Bar in 1831. He became a Queen's Counsel
(QC) in 1844.
He was MP for Dublin University from 1848 to 1858, after failing to be elected in 1847. He became Attorney General for Ireland from March to December 1852. He was also made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
1852. He received a Doctorate of Civil Law in 1853.
Napier left the House of Commons
when he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1858, an office he held until 1859. He was created a Baronet
in 1867 and appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
in 1868. His publications include educational and legal works.
He married Charity Grace on 20 August 1831 and had 2 sons: William John Napier and Sir Joseph Napier, 2nd Baronet
, and 3 daughters: Grace, Rosetta and Cherry. One of his sisters, Rosetta, married James Whiteside
, Attorney General
for Ireland, and another sister, Mary, married Echlin Molyneux
who later became a Professor of English Law at Queen's University Belfast.
In 1880 he retired to St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex and died there on 9 December, 1882. He was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin with a tablet to his memory placed in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.
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...
Member of Parliament
Member 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,...
(MP) in the United Kingdom Parliament and subsequently 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:...
.
He was the son of William Napier and Rosetta MacNaghten and was born in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, 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...
. He attended the Belfast Academical Institution and 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...
, before being called to the Irish Bar in 1831. He became a 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...
(QC) in 1844.
He was MP for Dublin University from 1848 to 1858, after failing to be elected in 1847. He became Attorney General for Ireland from March to December 1852. He was also made a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
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...
1852. He received a Doctorate of Civil Law in 1853.
Napier 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 Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1858, an office he held until 1859. He was created a Baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
in 1867 and appointed to the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
in 1868. His publications include educational and legal works.
He married Charity Grace on 20 August 1831 and had 2 sons: William John Napier and Sir Joseph Napier, 2nd Baronet
Sir Joseph Napier, 2nd Baronet
Sir Joseph Napier, 2nd Baronet was an Irish Captain 23rd Royal Welch Fusiliers.He was the son of Sir Joseph Napier, 1st Baronet and was born in Dublin, Ireland....
, and 3 daughters: Grace, Rosetta and Cherry. One of his sisters, Rosetta, married James Whiteside
James Whiteside
James Whiteside was an Irish politician and judge.-Background and education:Whiteside was the son of William Whiteside, a clergyman of the Church of Ireland, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, being called to the Irish bar in 1830.-Legal and judicial career:Whiteside very rapidly...
, Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
for Ireland, and another sister, Mary, married Echlin Molyneux
Echlin Molyneux
Echlin Molyneux was an Irish barrister, Queen's Counsel, County Judge for Heath, Professor of Equity at Dublin Law Institute , and Professor of English Law at Queen's University Belfast. He was instrumental in raising standards for legal practitioners through both the Law Institute and university...
who later became a Professor of English Law at Queen's University Belfast.
In 1880 he retired to St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex and died there on 9 December, 1882. He was buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery, Dublin with a tablet to his memory placed in St Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.