Richard Plunkett (c.1340-1393 ) was an eminent Irish judge and statesman who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland and Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His descendants held the titles Baron Dunsany, Baron Killeen and Earl of Fingall.
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He was born about 1340, son of Richard Plunkett of Rathregan, County Meath.The Plunketts were one of the long-established Anglo-Irish families of the Pale, having settled at Beaulieu in Meath about 1200. Another branch of the family later held the title Baron Louth.
He was considered one of the best lawyers of his generation and became King's Attorney in 1372.[1] he was also a noted Parliamentarian and took a leading part in the Kilkenny Parliament of 1374. He became a judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas in 1376. In July 1388 he was promoted to Chief Justice of the King's Bench and the following September was made Lord Chancellor. Elrington Ball[2] puts his death around 1389, but O'Flanagan[3] states that he lived to at least 1393 when Richard Northalis succeeded him as Chancellor.
O'Flanagan[4] calls him one of the most eminent Irishmen of his time, a lawyer of great distinction and equally distinguished for his Parliamentary career.
Richard married Margaret, widow of Robert Burnell. They had three children, Christopher, John and Anne. Christopher was grandfather of the first Baron Killeen.[5]