Thomas Nugent (chief justice of Ireland)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Nugent was an Irish Roman Catholic barrister who became Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
under James II of Great Britain, and held a 1689 title as Baron of Riverston (of complex status).
, who treated him as a representative of the Irish Catholics.
In March 1686 he was made a judge of the king's bench. In May he was admitted to the privy council, and in October 1687 became lord chief justice. His court was occupied in reversing outlawries of Catholics. One of his first acts was to present the lord-lieutenant with a list of sheriffs. An act of Henry VII, forbidding the keeping of guns without license of government, was revived and interpreted so as to deprive Protestants of their arms. Nugent said it was treason to possess weapons, though a fine of £20 was the highest penalty prescribed by the act. Clarendon records some instances of judicial partiality in Nugent, but he showed humanity in Ashton's case.
Early in 1688 Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell sent Nugent to England with Chief-baron Stephen Rice
, to concert measures for the repeal of the Act of Settlement 1662
. They returned to Ireland in April without having been able to persuade James to let Tyrconnell hold a parliament.
Nugent was holding the assizes at Cork
when James landed at Kinsale
in March 1689, and ordered the people of Bandon
who had declared for William III to be indicted for high treason
. Nugent was for severity, but General Justin MacCarthy overawed him into respecting the capitulation. Nugent was consulted by James at his landing, the Comte d'Avaux and John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort
being present.
In the parliament which met on 7 May 1689 Nugent, being called by writ on the opening day to the barony of Riverston, sat as a peer, and on the 13th introduced a bill for the repeal of the Acts of Settlement and Explanation. He took an active part in the House of Lords, and frequently presided. In July he was made a commissioner of the empty Irish treasury, and the commission was renewed in 1690, a few days before the battle of the Boyne
. Nugent was at Limerick
during or soon after William's initial siege
, and acted as secretary in Sir Richard Nagle's absence from September till the following January. He was accused by the Irish of holding secret communication with the Williamites, and of a plot to surrender Limerick. At the capitulation he had a pass from Ginkell
to go to his lands.
Nugent was outlawed as a rebel, but his lands remained in the family; he died in 1715.
(1839). There was a full-length portrait of him in his robes by Peter Lely
, in the hall at Pallas, County Galway
.
Lord Chief Justice of Ireland
thumb|200px|The Four CourtsThe headquarters of the Irish judicial system since 1804. The Court of King's Bench was one of the original four courts that sat there....
under James II of Great Britain, and held a 1689 title as Baron of Riverston (of complex status).
Life
He was the second son of Richard Nugent, 2nd Earl of Westmeath, by his wife Mary, daughter of Sir Thomas Nugent, bart., of Moyrath. He was brought up to the law, and after the accession of James II, when he was made K.C. in September 1685. During the following winter he was in communication with the lord-lieutenant, Henry Hyde, 2nd Earl of ClarendonHenry Hyde, 2nd Earl of Clarendon
Henry Hyde 2nd Earl of Clarendon PC was an English aristocrat and politician. He held high office at the beginning of the reign of James II of England, who had married his sister.-Early life:...
, who treated him as a representative of the Irish Catholics.
In March 1686 he was made a judge of the king's bench. In May he was admitted to the privy council, and in October 1687 became lord chief justice. His court was occupied in reversing outlawries of Catholics. One of his first acts was to present the lord-lieutenant with a list of sheriffs. An act of Henry VII, forbidding the keeping of guns without license of government, was revived and interpreted so as to deprive Protestants of their arms. Nugent said it was treason to possess weapons, though a fine of £20 was the highest penalty prescribed by the act. Clarendon records some instances of judicial partiality in Nugent, but he showed humanity in Ashton's case.
Early in 1688 Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell sent Nugent to England with Chief-baron Stephen Rice
Stephen Rice (judge)
Sir Stephen Rice was chief baron of the exchequer in Ireland, a supporter of James II.-Early life:He was a younger son of James Rice of Dingle, County Kerry, by Phillis Fanning of Limerick...
, to concert measures for the repeal of the Act of Settlement 1662
Act of Settlement 1662
The Act of Settlement 1662 passed by the Irish Parliament in Dublin. It was a partial reversal of the Cromwellian Act of Settlement 1652, which punished Irish Catholics and Royalists for fighting against the English Parliament in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms by the wholesale confiscation of their...
. They returned to Ireland in April without having been able to persuade James to let Tyrconnell hold a parliament.
Nugent was holding the assizes at Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
when James landed at 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...
in March 1689, and ordered the people of Bandon
Bandon, County Cork
Bandon is a town in County Cork, Ireland. With a population of 5,822 as of census 2006, Bandon lies on the River Bandon between two hills. The name in Irish means "Bridge of the Bandon", a reference to the origin of the town as a crossing-point on the river. In 2004 Bandon celebrated its...
who had declared for William III to be indicted for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. Nugent was for severity, but General Justin MacCarthy overawed him into respecting the capitulation. Nugent was consulted by James at his landing, the Comte d'Avaux and John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort
John Drummond, 1st Earl of Melfort
John Drummond, 1st Earl and titular 1st Duke of Melfort KG KT PC was a Scottish nobleman.He joined the army and was captain of the Scottish Footguards in 1673. He secured the post of deputy governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1679, followed by Lieutenant-General and Master of the Ordnance in 1680...
being present.
In the parliament which met on 7 May 1689 Nugent, being called by writ on the opening day to the barony of Riverston, sat as a peer, and on the 13th introduced a bill for the repeal of the Acts of Settlement and Explanation. He took an active part in the House of Lords, and frequently presided. In July he was made a commissioner of the empty Irish treasury, and the commission was renewed in 1690, a few days before the battle of 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...
. Nugent was at Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
during or soon after William's initial siege
Siege of Limerick (1690)
Limerick, a city in western Ireland, was besieged twice in the Williamite War in Ireland, 1689-1691. On the first of these occasions, in August to September 1690, its Jacobite defenders retreated to the city after their defeat at the Battle of the Boyne...
, and acted as secretary in Sir Richard Nagle's absence from September till the following January. He was accused by the Irish of holding secret communication with the Williamites, and of a plot to surrender Limerick. At the capitulation he had a pass from Ginkell
Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone
Godert de Ginkell, 1st Earl of Athlone, or in his own country of the Netherlands born Baron Godard van Reede was a Dutch general in the service of England....
to go to his lands.
Nugent was outlawed as a rebel, but his lands remained in the family; he died in 1715.
Life
He married in 1680 Marianna, daughter of Henry Barnewall, 2nd Viscount Barnewall of Kingsland, and leaving issue two sons and several daughters. His title of Riverston, though disputed in law, was borne by his descendants until it merged in the earldom of WestmeathEarl of Westmeath
Earl of Westmeath is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1621 for Richard Nugent, Baron Delvin. During the Tudor era the loyalty of the Nugent family was often in question, and Richard's father, the sixth baron, died in prison while awaiting trial for treason...
(1839). There was a full-length portrait of him in his robes by Peter Lely
Peter Lely
Sir Peter Lely was a painter of Dutch origin, whose career was nearly all spent in England, where he became the dominant portrait painter to the court.-Life:...
, in the hall at Pallas, County Galway
County Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
.