Godfrey Lill was an Irish politician, 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...

, and judge of the Court of Common Pleas (Ireland)

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...

. He became the 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 Fore

Fore (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Fore was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1612 to 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Fore was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...

 in 1761 and Baltinglass

Baltinglass (Parliament of Ireland constituency)

Baltinglass was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Baltinglass was not represented.-Members of Parliament, 1664–1801:*1665–1666 Richard Bulkeley...

 in 1768. He was appointed as Solicitor-General in 1770, and a judge of the Court of Common Pleas in 1774.

Early life

He was born in Dublin, third son of Thomas Lill. He was educated 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...

, where he was scholar in 1737: he took his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1739 and his Master's degree in 1741. He was considered one of the finest students of his generation. He entered Middle Temple

Middle Temple

The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...

 in 1738, was called to the Irish bar in 1743.

Family

He married Mary Bull, daughter of Nathaniel Bull of Surrey and had two daughters, Mary who married William Brereton, and Sarah who married Andrew Stewart, 1st Earl Castle Stewart

Earl Castle Stewart

Earl Castle Stewart, in the County of Tyrone, is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It was created in 1800 for Andrew Stuart, 1st Viscount Castle Stuart. The Stewart family descends from Sir Walter Stewart , younger son of Murdoch Stewart, 2nd Duke of Albany, son of Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of...

. His father-in-law was an associate of the Duke of Newcastle

Duke of Newcastle

Duke of Newcastle-upon-Tyne is a title which has been created three times in British history while the title of Duke of Newcastle-under-Lyne has been created once. The title was created for the first time in the Peerage of England in 1664 when William Cavendish, 1st Marquess of Newcastle-upon-Tyne...

, and Godfrey's rise to power is generally thought to have been due to the connection. He was Master in Chancery 1749-1760, KIng's Counsel in 1760, and Third Serjeant in 1767.

Character

He was a skillful orator, nicknamed " Smooth Godfrey " but in his career was often accused of poor judgement, hesitating before accepting a position on the bench, and refusing twice to become Chief Justice.