Richard Freeman was an English-born judge who became 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:...

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Family

He was born in Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....

, eldest son of John Freeman and his wife Anne Croft; educated at Christ Church, Oxford;called to the Bar 1674. He married firstly Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Anthony Keck, and secondly Anne Marshal of Durham.

Career

After 30 years at the Bar Freeman secured judicial office through his friendship with John Somers, the former Lord Chancellor, who had a high opinion of his abilities. In 1706 he became Lord Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and within a year was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland; in which capacity he also acted as speaker of the Irish House of Lords

Irish House of Lords

The Irish House of Lords was the upper house of the Parliament of Ireland that existed from mediaeval times until 1800. It was abolished along with the Irish House of Commons by the Act of Union.-Function:...

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In 1710 Freeman was suddenly afflicted with what was described as " a disorder of the brain" which was said to have deprived him entirely of his reason. Certainly he was unable to continue in office, and died shortly after resigning from the Chancellorship.

Character

According to Elrington Ball, Freeman was a fine lawyer and gained general respect in Ireland, being noted for good humour and charity as well as legal ability. His death following on the tragic collapse of his mental powers seems to have been genuinely mourned; a pamphleteer eulogised his brief tenure as Chancellor as "a golden age"