Richard Reade
Sir Richard Reade ( 1511-1575 ) was an English-born judge who held the office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland.
Background and early career
He was born at Nether Wallop in Hampshire, and educated at Winchester College and New College, Oxford where he became a fellow in 1528. He took the degrees of Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford in 1537 and Doctor of Civil Law at the same University in 1540. He quickly acquired a reputation as "a man of learning and experience". He was made a Master of Chancery and undertook a crucial trade mission to Flanders.[1] He was knighted in 1544.
Lord Chancellor of Ireland and later life
In 1546 Sir John Alan, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland was removed from office on charges of corruption, and Reade was sent to replace him. He was granted a house in the precincts of St. Patrick's Cathedral and the manor of Moyglare near Maynooth, County Kildare. In 1548 Alan was reinstated as Chancellor. Reade returned to England where he became Master of Requests. He later purchased the manors of Redbourn near St. Albans, and Tangley near Andover.
Death and family
He died in 1575 and was buried at Redbourn parish church. He left legacies to Winchester College and for the upkeep of the parish of Redbourn. The manor of Redbourn itself was inherited by his eldest son Innocent ;[2] his second son John died at 19, while his third son Andrew became a substantial landowner in Hampshire, acquiring the manors of Linkholt and Faccombe. The name of Richard's wife was Agnes Hamby.
Redbourn Church
Character
Ball[3] praises Reade as a man of great learning, though O'Flanagan[4] adds that there was little work in the Chancellor's Court during his tenure.