Barry Yelverton, 1st Viscount Avonmore

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Barry Yelverton, 1st Viscount Avonmore, PC (28 May 1736–19 August 1805) was an Irish judge and politician. He was the eldest son of Francis Yelverton of Blackwater, Co. Cork, County Cork.

Educated at Trinity College Dublin, he was for some years an assistant master under Andrew Buck in the Hibernian Academy. In 1761 he married Mary Nugent, a lady of some fortune, and was then enabled to read for the bar. He was called in 1764, his success was rapid, and he took silk eight years afterwards. He sat in the Irish House of Commons as member successively for the boroughs of Donegal and Carrickfergus, becoming Attorney-General for Ireland in 1782, but was elevated to the bench as Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1783. He was created Baron Yelverton in 1795, and in 1800 Viscount Avonmore in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1797 he attained a degree of infamy for presiding over what was widely regarded as a show trial which led to the execution of the United Irishman, William Orr. He died at Forthfield, County Dublin.

Among his colleagues at the Irish bar Yelverton, was a popular and charming companion. Of insignificant appearance, he owed his early successes to his remarkable eloquence, which made a great impression on his contemporaries; as a judge, he was inclined to take the view of the advocate rather than that of the impartial lawyer. He gave his support to Henry Grattan and the Whigs during the greater part of his parliamentary career, but in his latter days became identified with the court party and voted for the union, for which his viscounty was a reward. He had three sons and one daughter, and the title has descended in the family.

Children of Barry Yelverton and Mary Nugent:

Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by
New Creation		 Viscount Avonmore
1800–1805		 Succeeded by
William Yelverton
Baron Yelverton
1795–1805

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