Francis Blackburne

Francis Blackburne.

Francis Blackburne PC (Ire) KS (11 November 1782 – 17 September 1867) was an Irish judge and eventually became Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

Background

Born at Great Footston in County Meath, he was the son of Richard Blackburne of Great Foot's Town and nephew of Anthony Blackburne, Deputy Lieutenant and High Sheriff of County Meath. His mother, Elizabeth, was the daughter of Francis Hopkins (1724-1778) of Gillstown, Co. Meath and Darvistown, Co. Westmeath,^[1] a first cousin of Sir Francis Hopkins M.P., 1st Baronet of Athboy, Co. Meath; two of the great-grandsons of Ezekiel Hopkins, Bishop of Derry during the Siege of Derry.

Blackburne was educated in Dublin at the school of Rev. William White before entering Trinity College, Dublin in 1798, later winning a scholarship, gold medal (1803) and other distinctions.^[2] He finally graduated in 1806 (M.A.) and was a member of the Old Historical Society.

Judicial career

He was called to the Irish bar in 1805 and practised with great success on the home circuit. Blackburne was nominated a King's Counsel in 1822 and administered the Insurrection Act in Limerick for two years, effectually restoring order in the district. In 1826 he became the King's Third Serjeant-at-law and in 1830 was advanced to the Second Serjeant.^[2] A year later, he was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland and on this occasion was sworn of the Privy Council of Ireland.^[2] He held the post as attorney-general until 1834, however was readmitted in 1841 and after serving for a year, became Master of the Rolls in Ireland.^[2] In 1845, he was chosen Chief Justice of the Court of Queen's Bench.^[2] Blackburne was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland in February 1852, but was replaced already in October.^[2] After a break of four years, he became a Lord Justice of Appeal in Ireland.^[2] In 1866, he began a second term as lord chancellor, which ended with his death in the next year.

Blackburne prosecuted Daniel O'Connell and presided at the trial of William Smith O'Brien. From 1851, he was vice-chancellor of the University of Dublin.

Family

In 1809, he married Jane, daughter of William Martley of Ballyfallen, Co. Meath and his wife Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Rothwell of Berford, Co. Meath. They were the parents of three sons and three daughters. Blackburne bought Rathfarnham Castle in 1852, where his family continued to reside for three generations.

Notes

References

• Francis Blackburne at Encyclopædia Britannica

External links

•  "Blackburne, Francis". Encyclopedia Americana. 1920. 

•  Smith, George Barnett (1886). "Blackburne, Francis (1782-1867)". In Stephen, Leslie. Dictionary of National Biography 5. London: Smith, Elder & Co.