Viscount Carleton of Clare
Encyclopedia
Hugh Carleton, 1st Viscount Carleton PC (I)
SL
(11 September 1739 – 25 February 1826), was an Irish judge.
city, son of Francis Carleton and Rebecca Lawton. His father was a wealthy merchant from a family which settled in Cork in the time of Charles I
; he was also a powerful local politician, popularly known as "the King of Cork". Hugh was educated at Kilkenny College
and the University of Dublin
, where he matriculated in 1755. He entered Middle Temple
in 1758 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1764, King's Counsel in 1768.
: he was elected member for Tuam
in 1772, for Philipstown in 1776 and for Naas
in 1783. As a politician he was not a success: M.P.s complained he was inaudible, though oddly this fault did not prevent him becoming a highly successful barrister.
from 1787 to 1800. In 1787 he was invested as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland
. He was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
as Baron Carleton, of Amner, on 17 September 1789, and was further honoured when he was made Viscount Carleton, of Clare, on 21 November 1797, also in the Irish peerage. On his death in 1826, both titles became extinct.
He married firstly in 1766 Elizabeth Mercer of Dublin, who died in 1794, and secondly the following year Mary Buckley of Dorset
who died in 1810. He had no children by either marriage. He lived at Willow Park, Booterstown
and at a succession of town houses in Dublin. In his last years he lived in London and died at Hanover Square
.
He was a member of the Royal Irish Academy
.
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...
SL
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
(11 September 1739 – 25 February 1826), was an Irish judge.
Early life
Carleton was born in CorkCork (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...
city, son of Francis Carleton and Rebecca Lawton. His father was a wealthy merchant from a family which settled in Cork in the time of Charles I
Charles I
Charles I may refer to:In Kings and Emperors:* Charles I, Holy Roman Emperor or Charlemagne * Charles I of Naples, King of Sicily * Charles I of Hungary, King of Hungary...
; he was also a powerful local politician, popularly known as "the King of Cork". Hugh was educated at Kilkenny College
Kilkenny College
Kilkenny College or KCK is a co-educational secondary school located in Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland. It is a private school which caters for both boarders and day students. It is the largest co-educational boarding school in Ireland...
and 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 matriculated in 1755. 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 1758 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1764, King's Counsel in 1768.
Political career
With his father's influence Carleton was assured of a seat in the Irish House of CommonsIrish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
: he was elected member for Tuam
Tuam (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Tuam was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1800.-1692–1801:...
in 1772, for Philipstown in 1776 and for Naas
Naas (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Naas was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons to 1801. The Parliament of Ireland merged with the Parliament of Great Britain to form the Parliament of the United Kingdom on 1 January 1801. Thereafter Naas was represented by the Members for Kildare.-1692–1801:...
in 1783. As a politician he was not a success: M.P.s complained he was inaudible, though oddly this fault did not prevent him becoming a highly successful barrister.
Judicial career
Carleton was Recorder of Cork in 1769, third serjeant in 1776 and second serjeant in 1777. He became Solicitor General for Ireland in 1779 and Chief Justice of the Irish Common PleasChief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland was the senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas ,known in its early stage as the Common Bench or simply Bench, one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of Common Pleas in England...
from 1787 to 1800. In 1787 he was invested as a member of the Privy Council of 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...
. He was raised to the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
as Baron Carleton, of Amner, on 17 September 1789, and was further honoured when he was made Viscount Carleton, of Clare, on 21 November 1797, also in the Irish peerage. On his death in 1826, both titles became extinct.
Personal life
Lord Carleton was highly regarded as a judge, but his hypochondria made him a subject of ridicule, since like many hypochondriacs he enjoyed excellent health. His decision to retire on health grounds at 60 was greeted with derision, fully justified since he survived another quarter century.He married firstly in 1766 Elizabeth Mercer of Dublin, who died in 1794, and secondly the following year Mary Buckley of Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
who died in 1810. He had no children by either marriage. He lived at Willow Park, Booterstown
Booterstown
Booterstown,, is a coastal townland and civil parish, situated in the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council area of the former County Dublin, about south of the city of Dublin in Ireland.-Location and access:...
and at a succession of town houses in Dublin. In his last years he lived in London and died at Hanover Square
Hanover Square
Hanover Square may refer to:* Hanover Square, London, England* Hanover Square, Manhattan, New York City, USA** Hanover Square , elevated station* Hanover Square, Syracuse, USA-See also:* Hanover Square Rooms, London...
.
He was a member 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...
.