Charles O'Connor (Irish judge)

Charles Andrew O'Connor PC (31 December 1854 – 18 October 1928)[1] was an Irish judge, who served as the last Master of the Rolls in Ireland.

Contents

Background and education

Born the day before New Year 1855, he was the third son of Charles Andrew O'Connor.[2] His mother Catherine was the daughter of C. G. Smyth.[2] O'Connor was educated at St Stanislaus College and went then to Trinity College, Dublin, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1876.[3] In the same year he was admitted to the Middle Temple and in 1877 became employed as an auditor at the College Historical Society.[4] A year later O'Connor was called to the Irish bar by King's Inns.[3] In 1890 he obtained his Master of Arts.[2]

Judicial career

O'Connor was appointed a King's Counsel in 1894 and was chosen a bencher after two years.[4] He was nominated a First Serjeant-at-Law in 1907 and became Solicitor-General for Ireland two years later.[4] In 1911 he took over as Attorney-General for Ireland, on whose occasion he was sworn of the Privy Council.[3] In the following year, he succeeded as Master of the Rolls in Ireland, which he held until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922.[5] O'Connor resumed the position in the new state for the next two years until its abolishment in 1924.[5] Subsequently he received an appointment as justice at the Supreme Court of the Irish Free State, retiring after one year in 1925.[5]

Family

In 1890, O'Connor married Blanche, the daughter of James Scully.[2] He died in 1928.[1]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The Law Journal (1928), p. 215
  2. ^ a b c d Walford (1919), p. 1008
  3. ^ a b c Debrett (1922), p. 350
  4. ^ a b c Ball (2005), p. 383
  5. ^ a b c Who's Who (1926), p. 2176

References

  • Debrett, John (1922). Arthur G. M. Hesilrige. ed. Debrett's House of Commons and Judicial Bench 1922. London: Dean & Son Ltd.. 
  • Ball, F. Elrington (2005). The Judges in Ireland, 1221–1921. Clark, New Jersey: The Lawbook Exchange, Ltd.. ISBN 1584774282. 
  • Who's Who 1926. London: Adam & Charles Black Ltd.. 1926. 
  • Walford, Edward (1919). The County Families of the United Kingdom. London: Spottiswoode, Ballantyne & Co. Ltd. 
  • The Law Journal for the Year 1928. vol. LXVI. London. 1928. 
Legal offices
Preceded by
Redmond John Barry		 Solicitor-General for Ireland
1909–1911		 Succeeded by
Ignatius O'Brien
Preceded by
Redmond John Barry		 Attorney-General for Ireland
1911–1913		 Succeeded by
Ignatius O'Brien
Preceded by
Richard Edmund Meredith		 Master of the Rolls in Ireland
1912–1924		 Office abolished