Sir Richard Cox
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Cox, 1st Baronet PC
(25 March 1650 – 3 May 1733) was an Irish lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland
from 1703 to 1707 and as Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench for Ireland
from 1711 to 1714.
, Ireland
. He was the great-great-grandson of Richard Cox
, the Chancellor of Oxford
in 1547. His family had arrived from Wiltshire
in c. 1600, and was dispossessed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
. His father was Captain Richard Cox II (1610–c1651) and mother was Katherine (Bird) Batten. She was born in Clonakilty
, County Cork, Ireland and died c.1651/52 probably in Bandon. He was orphaned at the age of three and raised by a maternal grandparents and uncle in Cork County.
, London
, in 1673; apprenticed in manorial courts of Boyle family
, of County Cork
; Recorder
of Kinsale
with estate at Clonakilty
, 1687; lost recordership after accession of James II
. Moved to Bristol
, where he practiced as a lawyer; became acquainted with Sir Robert Southwell, who introduced him to the Duke of Ormonde
, thereafter his patron. Returned to Ireland, fought at the Boyne
, in 1690. He was knighted on November 5, 1692 by William III of England
and then became a Baronet on November 21, 1706.
Became Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1703 and then Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench
from 1711–14, after being dismissed in 1707 for his opposition to the possible repeal of the sacramental test for religious dissenters in that year. He escaped impeachment when Ormonde defected to Jacobite cause in 1715.
Was the author of an early history of Ireland as regarded from the standpoint of the New English; Hibernia Anglicana, or, The History of Ireland (1689–90), written from New English standpoint (called ‘trite’ by DNB); purporting to be first chronological history of Ireland, and incidentally attacking the ridiculous stories which they have publish of the Firbolgs and Tuah-de-danans'.
Lived 20 years in retirement before his death, from apoplexy, in the Great Hall of the Royal Hospital in, Kilmainham
.
, 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...
(25 March 1650 – 3 May 1733) was an Irish lawyer and judge. He served as 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:...
from 1703 to 1707 and as Lord Chief Justice of the Queen'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 1711 to 1714.
Early life
Cox was born in BandonBandon
Bandon is the name of several places*Bandon, County Cork, Ireland*the River Bandon in Ireland*Bandon , former constituency in Ireland*Bandon, the old name of Surat Thani in Thailand**the Bandon Bay near Surat Thani...
, 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 was the great-great-grandson of Richard Cox
Richard Cox (bishop)
Richard Cox was an English clergyman, who was Dean of Westminster and Bishop of Ely.-Biography:Cox was born of obscure parentage at Whaddon, Buckinghamshire, in 1499 or 1500....
, the Chancellor of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
in 1547. His family had arrived from Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
in c. 1600, and was dispossessed in the Irish Rebellion of 1641
Irish Rebellion of 1641
The Irish Rebellion of 1641 began as an attempted coup d'état by Irish Catholic gentry, who tried to seize control of the English administration in Ireland to force concessions for the Catholics living under English rule...
. His father was Captain Richard Cox II (1610–c1651) and mother was Katherine (Bird) Batten. She was born in Clonakilty
Clonakilty
Clonakilty , often referred to by locals simply as Clon, is a small town on the N71 national secondary road in West County Cork, Ireland, approximately 45 minutes away by road to the west of Cork City. The town is on the southern coast of the island, and is surrounded by hilly country devoted...
, County Cork, Ireland and died c.1651/52 probably in Bandon. He was orphaned at the age of three and raised by a maternal grandparents and uncle in Cork County.
Career
Qualified at Gray's InnGray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, 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...
, in 1673; apprenticed in manorial courts of Boyle family
Earl of Cork
Earl of the County of Cork, usually shortened to Earl of Cork, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1620 for the Anglo-Irish politician Richard Boyle, 1st Baron Boyle...
, of County Cork
County Cork
County Cork is a county in Ireland. It is located in the South-West Region and is also part of the province of Munster. It is named after the city of Cork . Cork County Council is the local authority for the county...
; Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
with estate at Clonakilty
Clonakilty
Clonakilty , often referred to by locals simply as Clon, is a small town on the N71 national secondary road in West County Cork, Ireland, approximately 45 minutes away by road to the west of Cork City. The town is on the southern coast of the island, and is surrounded by hilly country devoted...
, 1687; lost recordership after accession of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
. Moved to Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, where he practiced as a lawyer; became acquainted with Sir Robert Southwell, who introduced him to the Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde
James Butler, 2nd Duke of Ormonde KG KT was an Irish statesman and soldier. He was the third of the Kilcash branch of the family to inherit the earldom of Ormonde...
, thereafter his patron. Returned to Ireland, fought at the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
, in 1690. He was knighted on November 5, 1692 by William III of England
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and then became a Baronet on November 21, 1706.
Became Lord Chancellor of Ireland in 1703 and then Lord Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench
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 1711–14, after being dismissed in 1707 for his opposition to the possible repeal of the sacramental test for religious dissenters in that year. He escaped impeachment when Ormonde defected to Jacobite cause in 1715.
Was the author of an early history of Ireland as regarded from the standpoint of the New English; Hibernia Anglicana, or, The History of Ireland (1689–90), written from New English standpoint (called ‘trite’ by DNB); purporting to be first chronological history of Ireland, and incidentally attacking the ridiculous stories which they have publish of the Firbolgs and Tuah-de-danans'.
Lived 20 years in retirement before his death, from apoplexy, in the Great Hall of the Royal Hospital in, Kilmainham
Kilmainham
Kilmainham is a suburb of Dublin south of the River Liffey and west of the city centre, in the Dublin 8 postal district.-History:In the Viking era, the monastery was home to the first Norse base in Ireland....
.
Personal life
He was married to Mary Bourne on 26 February 1674. Mary Bourne was born in 1658 in County Cork, Ireland. She died on June 1, 1715. They had fifteen children. His letters give vivid evidence of a lively and charming personality; he welcomes additions to his numerous offspring, describes the pleasures of good food and drink, and describes his love of music and fine clothes. Cox died in DunmanwayDunmanway
Dunmanway is a town in County Cork, in the southwest of Ireland. It is the geographical centre of the region known as West Cork. It is probably best known as the birthplace of Sam Maguire, an Irish Protestant republican, for whom the trophy of the All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is...
, Ireland.