Caesar Litton Falkiner
Encyclopedia
Caesar Litton Falkiner was an Irish Unionist Party
politician, barrister
and a writer on literary and historical topics.
Falkiner was the second son of Sir Frederick Falkiner, who was subsequently the Recorder of Dublin
(1876 –1905.) He studied at the University of Dublin
(B.A.
) - where he was the President of the University Philosophical Society (1885–1886) - and at the King's Inns
, Dublin (prior to his call to the Bar in 1887.)
He was an unsuccessful candidate in the South Armagh
constituency at the United Kingdom general election, 1892
.
He appointed Assistant Legal Commissioner in the Irish Land Commission
in 1897 and continued in that post until his death. He was also Secretary of the Council of the Royal Irish Academy
.
At the time of his death, Falkiner was preparing an edition of the letters of Jonathan Swift
, a task which was taken up and completed (6 vols, 1910 – 1914) by F Elrington Ball
. It appears that the edition of Thomas Moore
's poetry which he was reportedly preparing for the Clarendon Press
was never completed. (Godley
(1910) seems not to be a continuation of this work.)
He was killed in an accident on August 5, 1908 while on a mountain-climbing holiday in the Alps
.
In 1910 a memorial to him was erected in the south aisle of the nave of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
, beside the bust commemorating W.E.H. Lecky
. The memorial consists of a bronze bas relief portrait of Falkiner, on a marble ground, with an inscription. At the unveiling of this monument, his contemporary and friend Colonel Edward Macartney-Filgate spoke as follows:
[W]e desire to record not only our affectionate appreciation of his singularly unselfish and loveable character, but also our grateful recognition of his earnest endeavour to teach us to read aright the tangled history of this island. Entirely free from any desire to weave a web wherewith to veil the clouds that overhang the vista of our troubled past, he yet sought to unravel the skein with all the patience of a true craftsman; in the hope that those that come after might learn to avoid the hate and passion, which too often in bygone years confused it in the winding. (Anon (1910) 278-279).
Falkiner had married on August 4, 1892 Henrietta Mary Deane, daughter of Sir Thomas Newenham Deane, with whom he had two daughters.
Irish Unionist Party
The Irish Unionist Alliance was a Unionist party founded in Ireland in 1891 to oppose plans for Gladstonian and Parnellite Home Rule for Ireland. The party was led for much of its life by Colonel Edward James Saunderson and later by the William St John Brodrick, Earl of Midleton...
politician, barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and a writer on literary and historical topics.
Falkiner was the second son of Sir Frederick Falkiner, who was subsequently the Recorder of Dublin
Recorder of Dublin
The Recorder of Dublin was a judicial position in Dublin, Ireland. The first to hold the position was James Stanihurst, speaker of the Irish parliament, in 1564 and the last was Sir Thomas O'Shaughnessy. The Recordership was abolished in 1924....
(1876 –1905.) He studied at the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
(B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
) - where he was the President of the University Philosophical Society (1885–1886) - and at the King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
, Dublin (prior to his call to the Bar in 1887.)
He was an unsuccessful candidate in the South Armagh
South Armagh (UK Parliament constituency)
South Armagh was a UK Parliament constituency in Ireland.-Boundaries and boundary changes:This constituency comprised the southern part of County Armagh....
constituency at the United Kingdom general election, 1892
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
.
He appointed Assistant Legal Commissioner in the Irish Land Commission
Irish Land Commission
The Irish Land Commission was created in 1881 as a rent fixing commission by the Land Law Act 1881, also known as the second Irish Land Act...
in 1897 and continued in that post until his death. He was also Secretary of the Council of the Royal Irish Academy
Royal Irish Academy
The Royal Irish Academy , based in Dublin, is an all-Ireland, independent, academic body that promotes study and excellence in the sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is one of Ireland's premier learned societies and cultural institutions and currently has around 420 Members, elected in...
.
At the time of his death, Falkiner was preparing an edition of the letters of Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift
Jonathan Swift was an Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer , poet and cleric who became Dean of St...
, a task which was taken up and completed (6 vols, 1910 – 1914) by F Elrington Ball
F Elrington Ball
Francis Elrington Ball was an Irish author and legal historian, best known for his work The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 .-Life:...
. It appears that the edition of Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore
Thomas Moore was an Irish poet, singer, songwriter, and entertainer, now best remembered for the lyrics of The Minstrel Boy and The Last Rose of Summer. He was responsible, with John Murray, for burning Lord Byron's memoirs after his death...
's poetry which he was reportedly preparing for the Clarendon Press
Oxford University Press
Oxford University Press is the largest university press in the world. It is a department of the University of Oxford and is governed by a group of 15 academics appointed by the Vice-Chancellor known as the Delegates of the Press. They are headed by the Secretary to the Delegates, who serves as...
was never completed. (Godley
A. D. Godley
Alfred Denis Godley was a classical scholar and author of humorous poems. From 1910 to 1920 he was Public Orator at the University of Oxford, a post that involved composing citations in Latin for the recipients of honorary degrees. One of these was for Thomas Hardy who received an Honorary D. Litt...
(1910) seems not to be a continuation of this work.)
He was killed in an accident on August 5, 1908 while on a mountain-climbing holiday in the Alps
Alps
The Alps is one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria and Slovenia in the east through Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany to France in the west....
.
In 1910 a memorial to him was erected in the south aisle of the nave of St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin
Saint Patrick's Cathedral , or more formally, the Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St Patrick is a cathedral of the Church of Ireland in Dublin, Ireland which was founded in 1191. The Church has designated it as The National Cathedral of Ireland...
, beside the bust commemorating W.E.H. Lecky
William Edward Hartpole Lecky
William Edward Hartpole Lecky, OM was an Irish historian.-Early life:Born at Newtown Park, near Dublin, he was the eldest son of John Hartpole Lecky, a landowner....
. The memorial consists of a bronze bas relief portrait of Falkiner, on a marble ground, with an inscription. At the unveiling of this monument, his contemporary and friend Colonel Edward Macartney-Filgate spoke as follows:
[W]e desire to record not only our affectionate appreciation of his singularly unselfish and loveable character, but also our grateful recognition of his earnest endeavour to teach us to read aright the tangled history of this island. Entirely free from any desire to weave a web wherewith to veil the clouds that overhang the vista of our troubled past, he yet sought to unravel the skein with all the patience of a true craftsman; in the hope that those that come after might learn to avoid the hate and passion, which too often in bygone years confused it in the winding. (Anon (1910) 278-279).
Falkiner had married on August 4, 1892 Henrietta Mary Deane, daughter of Sir Thomas Newenham Deane, with whom he had two daughters.