Michael Smith (judge)
Encyclopedia
Michael Smith was an Irish judge and founder of a judicial dynasty whose members were noted for eccentricity.
He was born at Newtown, County Offaly
, son of William Smith and his wife Hester Lynch. He graduated from the University of Dublin,and was called to the Bar in 1769. He was member of the Irish House of Commons
for Randalstown
and noted for his eloquence.He was raised to the Bench as a Baron of the Exchequer in 1793; in 1801 he became Master of the Rolls in Ireland
, retiring in 1806.
His first marriage to Maryanne Cusack of Ballyronan was an interesting one for an ambitious young lawyer as Maryanne was an open and devout Roman Catholic. Their eldest son Sir William Cusack-Smith followed his father into the law and as a Baron of the Exchequer. His appointment caused disquiet both because he was only 35 and because he was already showing marked signs of eccentricity. William's second son Thomas Berry Cusack Smith continued the family traditions of judicial eminence and eccentricity : like his grandfather he was Master of the Rolls in Ireland and like his father he was notably eccentric.
Maryanne died in 1798 and Michael remarried his cousin Eleanor Smith; in 1799 he was made a baronet
of Tuam
in King's County.. According to Elrington Ball he was noted for learning and eloquence; in contrast to his son and grandson who were both notably hot-tempered he was invariably calm and self-controlled.
He was born at Newtown, County Offaly
County Offaly
County Offaly is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Midlands Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Uí Failghe and was formerly known as King's County until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. Offaly County Council is...
, son of William Smith and his wife Hester Lynch. He graduated from the University of Dublin,and was called to the Bar in 1769. He was member of 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 Randalstown
Randalstown
Randalstown is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, located between the towns of Antrim and Toome. It had a population of 4,956 people in the 2001 Census. It has a very prominent disused railway viaduct and lies beside Lough Neagh and the Shane's Castle estate...
and noted for his eloquence.He was raised to the Bench as a Baron of the Exchequer in 1793; in 1801 he became 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....
, retiring in 1806.
His first marriage to Maryanne Cusack of Ballyronan was an interesting one for an ambitious young lawyer as Maryanne was an open and devout Roman Catholic. Their eldest son Sir William Cusack-Smith followed his father into the law and as a Baron of the Exchequer. His appointment caused disquiet both because he was only 35 and because he was already showing marked signs of eccentricity. William's second son Thomas Berry Cusack Smith continued the family traditions of judicial eminence and eccentricity : like his grandfather he was Master of the Rolls in Ireland and like his father he was notably eccentric.
Maryanne died in 1798 and Michael remarried his cousin Eleanor Smith; in 1799 he was made a baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
of Tuam
Tuam
Tuam is a town in County Galway, Ireland. The name is pronounced choo-um . It is situated west of the midlands of Ireland, and north of Galway city.-History:...
in King's County.. According to Elrington Ball he was noted for learning and eloquence; in contrast to his son and grandson who were both notably hot-tempered he was invariably calm and self-controlled.