Richard Dowse
Richard Dowse PC (1824 – 14 March 1890)[1] was an Irish politician, barrister and judge, reputed to be the best and wittiest orator of his time.
Background
He was born in Dungannon, County Tyrone, eldest son of William Dowse and Maria Donaldson.[2] He was educated at the Royal School Dungannon and the University of Dublin, entered Lincoln's Inn in 1849 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1852. After practicing for some years on the North-West Circuit, he became Queen's Counsel in 1863 and Third Serjeant in 1867.[3]
Later career
He was elected as Member of Parliament (MP) for Londonderry at the 1868 general election.[1] He was appointed a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) in 1872, having previously served as Attorney-General and Solicitor-General for Ireland [4] Dowse resided at 38 Mountjoy Square in Dublin's north city centre.
Reputation
He was considered one of the finest and wittiest Parliamentary speakers of the age;[5] by comparison his judgements are generally considered dull, although he had the virtues of clarity and simplicity: Delaney refers to a complex habeas corpus application where Dowse decided simply "I'm afraid the prisoner must remain in gaol',[6] and he occasionally showed a touch of humour.
Death
He died suddenly while holding the assizes in Tralee, County Kerry in March 1890.[6] He had married in 1852 Catherine Moore of Clones, who died in 1874, leaving issue.[3]
Legacy
His obituary notice in The Times of 15 March 1890, read
| “ | Mr. Baron Dowse was a self-made man, who, without social advantages, forced his way by his own merit to the eminent position which he occupied . . . He gave at all times free and vivid utterance to his thoughts, without waiting to examine critically the terms in which he should mould them. These were often quaint and graphic, with a dash of wit and humour, which, if a little wanting in dignity, .. .gave emphasis and force to an argument or comment.[7][8] | ” |
On his retirement from the House of Commons, Punch magazine published a warm tribute to a man whose humour had been "like an oasis in the desert".[9]
Elrington Ball described him as a man who combined great wit with incisive intelligence and a knowledge of the world.[10]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "L" (part 4)
- ↑ Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray Lndon 1926 Vol.2 p.369
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ball p.369
- ↑ "States and Regents of the World — Ireland". Archived from the original on 2009-07-30. Retrieved 07/09/2008.
- ↑ Delaney, V.T.H Christopher Palles Allen Figgis and Co 1960 p.90
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Delaney p.91
- ↑ Breathnach, Seamus. "Irish American Murders". Retrieved 07/09/2008.
- ↑ "Archiseek Dublin Tour". Retrieved 07/09/2008.
- ↑ Delaney p.90
- ↑ Ball p.305
External links
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Lord Claud Hamilton |
Member of Parliament for Londonderry City 1868 – 1872 |
Succeeded by Charles Edward Lewis |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by Charles Robert Barry |
Solicitor General for Ireland 1870-1872 |
Succeeded by Christopher Palles |
| Attorney General for Ireland 1872 | ||