Thomas O'Hagan, 1st Baron O'Hagan
Encyclopedia
Thomas O'Hagan, 1st Baron O'Hagan KP, PC
, QC
(29 May 1812 – 1 February 1885), was an Irish lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland
from 1868 to 1874 and again from 1880 to 1881.
, the son of a trader. He was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution
, and was called to the Irish
Bar
in 1836.
in 1849. His advocacy of a continuance of the Union
with Great Britain
, and his appointment as Solicitor-General for Ireland
in 1860 and Attorney-General for Ireland
in the following year, lost him the support of the Nationalist
party, but he was returned to Parliament
as Liberal
Member of Parliament
for Tralee
in 1863. In 1865 he was appointed a judge of common pleas
, and in 1868 became Lord Chancellor of Ireland
in William Ewart Gladstone
's first administration.
O'Hagan was the first Roman Catholic to hold the chancellorship since the reign of James II
, an Act of Parliament
admitting Roman Catholics to the position having been passed in 1867. In 1870 he was created Baron O'Hagan, of Tullahogue in the County
of Tyrone
, and held office until the resignation of the ministry in 1874. In 1880 he again became Lord Chancellor on Gladstone's return to office, but resigned in 1881.
His tenure as Lord Chancellor saw several major legislative reforms in Ireland, of which the most notable was the First Irish Land Act 1870, providing for compensation for tenants in the event of eviction. It was also notable for his continual clashes with the other judge of appeal, Jonathan Christian
, a bitter-tongued man with a deep contempt for most of his judicial colleagues, including O'Hagan. O'Hagan seems to have regarded Christian as little more than a nuisance, but on taking up office for his second term did not hide his relief that Christian had retired.
On his retirement from office Lord O'Hagan was in 1882 appointed a Knight of St Patrick, having become Vice Chancellor of the Royal University of Ireland
the previous year.
, in February 1885, aged 72, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
, Dublin. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son, Thomas
. The Liberal Unionist editor of the Belfast Norther Whig, Thomas Macknight
, who had been a personal friend of O'Hagan, states in his memoir ULSTER AS IT IS (London, 1896) that he believed O'Hagan would have opposed Gladstone's conversion to Home Rule had he not died when he did. O'Hagan's sister Mary was Abbess of the Poor Clare convent at Newry and later at Kenmare. Her biography was written by her protege MF Cusack "the Nun of Kenmare".
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...
, QC
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...
(29 May 1812 – 1 February 1885), 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 1868 to 1874 and again from 1880 to 1881.
Background and education
O'Hagan was born in BelfastBelfast
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...
, the son of a trader. He was educated at Royal Belfast Academical Institution
Royal Belfast Academical Institution
The Royal Belfast Academical Institution, is a Grammar School in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Locally referred to as Inst, the school educates boys from ages 11–18...
, and was called to the Irish
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...
Bar
Bar association
A bar association is a professional body of lawyers. Some bar associations are responsible for the regulation of the legal profession in their jurisdiction; others are professional organizations dedicated to serving their members; in many cases, they are both...
in 1836.
Career
Between 1838 and 1841 O'Hagan was the editor of the Newry Examiner. In 1840 he moved to Dublin, where he appeared for the repeal party in many political trials, becoming an Irish Queen's CounselQueen'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...
in 1849. His advocacy of a continuance of the Union
Act of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
with Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and his appointment as Solicitor-General for Ireland
Solicitor-General for Ireland
The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
in 1860 and Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
in the following year, lost him the support of the Nationalist
Nationalist Party (Ireland)
The Nationalist Party was a term commonly used to describe a number of parliamentary political parties and constituency organisations supportive of Home Rule for Ireland from 1874 to 1922...
party, but he was returned to Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
as Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
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,...
for Tralee
Tralee (UK Parliament constituency)
Tralee was a constituency in Ireland of the Parliament of the United Kingdom Parliament, returning one Member of Parliament . It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801...
in 1863. In 1865 he was appointed a judge of common pleas
Court of Common Pleas (Ireland)
The Court of Common Pleas was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror image of the equivalent court in England...
, and in 1868 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:...
in William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
's first administration.
O'Hagan was the first Roman Catholic to hold the chancellorship since the reign 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...
, an Act of Parliament
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
admitting Roman Catholics to the position having been passed in 1867. In 1870 he was created Baron O'Hagan, of Tullahogue in the County
Counties of Ireland
The counties of Ireland are sub-national divisions used for the purposes of geographic demarcation and local government. Closely related to the county is the County corporate which covered towns or cities which were deemed to be important enough to be independent from their counties. A county...
of Tyrone
Tyrone
The name Tyrone can refer to:*County Tyrone, a county in Northern Ireland, roughly corresponding to the ancient kingdom of Tír Eogain*An Earl of Tyrone*A small steam train which runs between Bushmills and the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland-Places:...
, and held office until the resignation of the ministry in 1874. In 1880 he again became Lord Chancellor on Gladstone's return to office, but resigned in 1881.
His tenure as Lord Chancellor saw several major legislative reforms in Ireland, of which the most notable was the First Irish Land Act 1870, providing for compensation for tenants in the event of eviction. It was also notable for his continual clashes with the other judge of appeal, Jonathan Christian
Jonathan Christian
Jonathan Christian QC, PC , was an Irish judge. He served as Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1856 to 1858.-References:...
, a bitter-tongued man with a deep contempt for most of his judicial colleagues, including O'Hagan. O'Hagan seems to have regarded Christian as little more than a nuisance, but on taking up office for his second term did not hide his relief that Christian had retired.
On his retirement from office Lord O'Hagan was in 1882 appointed a Knight of St Patrick, having become Vice Chancellor of the Royal University of Ireland
National University of Ireland
The National University of Ireland , , is a federal university system of constituent universities, previously called constituent colleges, and recognised colleges set up under the Irish Universities Act, 1908, and significantly amended by the Universities Act, 1997.The constituent universities are...
the previous year.
Personal life
Lord O'Hagan died at Hereford House, LondonLondon
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 February 1885, aged 72, and was buried in Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery
Glasnevin Cemetery , officially known as Prospect Cemetery, is the largest non-denominational cemetery in Ireland with an estimated 1.5 million burials...
, Dublin. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son, Thomas
Thomas Towneley O'Hagan, 2nd Baron O'Hagan
Thomas Towneley O'Hagan, 2nd Baron O'Hagan , was a British peer and soldier.He was the eldest son of Thomas O'Hagan, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland in Gladstone's first two governments, and of Alice Towneley from Lancashire's prominent Towneley family, from whom he inherited considerable land...
. The Liberal Unionist editor of the Belfast Norther Whig, Thomas Macknight
Thomas Macknight
Thomas MacKnight was an Anglo-Irish newspaper editor, biographer and publisher. He was the originator of the Two Nations Theory in 1896, which argues that the Ulster Protestants are a distinct Irish nation....
, who had been a personal friend of O'Hagan, states in his memoir ULSTER AS IT IS (London, 1896) that he believed O'Hagan would have opposed Gladstone's conversion to Home Rule had he not died when he did. O'Hagan's sister Mary was Abbess of the Poor Clare convent at Newry and later at Kenmare. Her biography was written by her protege MF Cusack "the Nun of Kenmare".