Abraham Brewster
Encyclopedia
Abraham Brewster PC
(April 1796 – 26 July 1874) was an Irish judge and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
.
, by his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Bates. He received his earlier education at Kilkenny College
, then proceeding to the University of Dublin
in 1812, took his B.A.
degree in 1817, and long after, in 1847, his M.A. degree.
for his circuit, soon acquired the reputation of a sound lawyer and a powerful speaker. Lord Plunket
honoured him with a silk gown on 13 July 1835. Notwithstanding the opposition of Daniel O'Connell
, he was appointed legal adviser to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland on 10 October 1841, and was Solicitor-General for Ireland
from 2 February 1846 until 16 July. By the influence of his friend Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty, he was Attorney-General for Ireland
from 10 January 1853 until the fall of the Aberdeen ministry
on 10 February 1855.
Brewster was very active in almost all branches of his profession after his resignation, and his reputation as an advocate may be gathered from the pages of the Irish Law and Equity Reports, and in the later series of the Irish Common Law Reports, the Irish Chancery Reports, and the Irish Jurist, in all of which his name very frequently appears. Among the most important cases in which he took part were the Mountgarrett case in 1854, involving a peerage and an estate of £10,000 a year; the Carden abduction case in July of the same year; the Yelverton case
, 1861; the Egmont will case, 1863; the Marquis of Donegal's ejectment action; and lastly, the great will cause of Fitzgerald v. Fitzgerald, in which Brewster's statement for the plaintiff is said to have been one of his most successful efforts.
On Lord Derby
becoming prime minister
, Brewster succeeded Francis Blackburne
as lord justice of appeal in Ireland in July 1866, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
in the month of March following. As lord chancellor he sat in his court for the last time on 17 December 1868, when Benjamin Disraeli's government resigned. He then retired from public life.
There are in print only three or four judgments delivered by him, either in the appellate court or the court of chancery. As far back as January 1853 he had been made a privy councillor
in Ireland. His judicial manner was quiet, but with what was called " a touch of serviceable fierceness" which kept order in Court. He was highly regarded by his colleagues; even the bitter-tongued Jonathan Christian
, who despised most of his fellow judges, deferred to Brewster.
, County Carlow
, on 30 July. By his marriage in 1819 with Mary Ann, daughter of Robert Gray of Upton House, County Carlow
, who died in Dublin on 24 November 1862, he had issue one son, Colonel William Bagenal Brewster, and one daughter, Elizabeth Mary, wife of Mr. Henry French, both of whom died in the lifetime of their father.
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
(April 1796 – 26 July 1874) was an Irish judge and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
.
Background and education
Brewster was born at Ballinulta, the son of William Bagenal Brewster, of Ballinulta, County WicklowCounty Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, by his wife Mary, daughter of Thomas Bates. He received his earlier education at Kilkenny College
Kilkenny College
Kilkenny College or KCK is a co-educational secondary school located in Kilkenny, in the South-East of Ireland. It is a private school which caters for both boarders and day students. It is the largest co-educational boarding school in Ireland...
, then proceeding to the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
in 1812, took his B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1817, and long after, in 1847, his M.A. degree.
Legal and judicial career
Brewster was called to the Irish bar in 1819, and, having chosen LeinsterLeinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
for his circuit, soon acquired the reputation of a sound lawyer and a powerful speaker. Lord Plunket
William Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket
William Conyngham Plunket, 1st Baron Plunket PC was an Irish politician and lawyer who eventually became Lord Chancellor of Ireland....
honoured him with a silk gown on 13 July 1835. Notwithstanding the opposition of Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell
Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell Daniel O'Connell (6 August 1775 – 15 May 1847; often referred to as The Liberator, or The Emancipator, was an Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century...
, he was appointed legal adviser to the Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland on 10 October 1841, and was Solicitor-General for Ireland
Solicitor-General for Ireland
The Solicitor-General for Ireland was the holder of an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was a deputy to the Attorney-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters. At least one holder of the office, Patrick Barnewall played a significant role in...
from 2 February 1846 until 16 July. By the influence of his friend Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Admiralty, he was Attorney-General for Ireland
Attorney-General for Ireland
The Attorney-General for Ireland was an Irish and then United Kingdom government office. The holder was senior to the Solicitor-General for Ireland, and advised the Crown on Irish legal matters...
from 10 January 1853 until the fall of the Aberdeen ministry
Aberdeen Ministry
-The Cabinet:† After June 1854 office became Secretary of State for War.Notes*Lord John Russell served as Leader of the House of Commons from December 1852 to February 1855.Changes...
on 10 February 1855.
Brewster was very active in almost all branches of his profession after his resignation, and his reputation as an advocate may be gathered from the pages of the Irish Law and Equity Reports, and in the later series of the Irish Common Law Reports, the Irish Chancery Reports, and the Irish Jurist, in all of which his name very frequently appears. Among the most important cases in which he took part were the Mountgarrett case in 1854, involving a peerage and an estate of £10,000 a year; the Carden abduction case in July of the same year; the Yelverton case
Yelverton case
The Yelverton case was a famous 19th century Irish law case, which eventually resulted in a change to the law on mixed religion marriages in Ireland.Under a Statute of King George II The Yelverton case was a famous 19th century Irish law case, which eventually resulted in a change to the law on...
, 1861; the Egmont will case, 1863; the Marquis of Donegal's ejectment action; and lastly, the great will cause of Fitzgerald v. Fitzgerald, in which Brewster's statement for the plaintiff is said to have been one of his most successful efforts.
On Lord Derby
Edward Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby
Edward George Geoffrey Smith-Stanley, 14th Earl of Derby, KG, PC was an English statesman, three times Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, and to date the longest serving leader of the Conservative Party. He was known before 1834 as Edward Stanley, and from 1834 to 1851 as Lord Stanley...
becoming prime minister
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the Head of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister and Cabinet are collectively accountable for their policies and actions to the Sovereign, to Parliament, to their political party and...
, Brewster succeeded Francis Blackburne
Francis Blackburne
Francis Blackburne PC KS was an Irish judge and eventually became Lord Chancellor of Ireland.-Background:...
as lord justice of appeal in Ireland in July 1866, and Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
in the month of March following. As lord chancellor he sat in his court for the last time on 17 December 1868, when Benjamin Disraeli's government resigned. He then retired from public life.
There are in print only three or four judgments delivered by him, either in the appellate court or the court of chancery. As far back as January 1853 he had been made a privy councillor
Privy Council of Ireland
The Privy Council of Ireland was an institution of the Kingdom of Ireland until 31 December 1800 and of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland 1801-1922...
in Ireland. His judicial manner was quiet, but with what was called " a touch of serviceable fierceness" which kept order in Court. He was highly regarded by his colleagues; even the bitter-tongued Jonathan Christian
Jonathan Christian
Jonathan Christian QC, PC , was an Irish judge. He served as Solicitor-General for Ireland from 1856 to 1858.-References:...
, who despised most of his fellow judges, deferred to Brewster.
Family
Brewster died at his residence, 26 Merrion Square South, Dublin, on 26 July 1874, and was buried at TullowTullow
Tullow is a town in County Carlow, Ireland. It is located on the River Slaney where the N81 road intersects with the R762.-History:There is a statue of Father John Murphy, one of the leaders of the 1798 Rebellion, who was captured near Tullow and executed in the Market Square on 2 July...
, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, on 30 July. By his marriage in 1819 with Mary Ann, daughter of Robert Gray of Upton House, County Carlow
County Carlow
County Carlow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Carlow, which lies on the River Barrow. Carlow County Council is the local authority for the county...
, who died in Dublin on 24 November 1862, he had issue one son, Colonel William Bagenal Brewster, and one daughter, Elizabeth Mary, wife of Mr. Henry French, both of whom died in the lifetime of their father.