James Anthony Lawson
Encyclopedia
James Anthony Lawson PC
, QC
(1817 – 1887), was an Irish academic, lawyer and judge.
, the eldest son of James Lawson, by Mary Anthony, daughter of Joseph Anthony, and was educated at the endowed school there. Having entered Trinity College, Dublin
, he was elected a scholar in 1836, obtained a senior moderatorship in 1837, and was a gold medallist and first class in ethics and logic. He graduated B.A. 1838, LL.B. 1841, and LL.D. 1850, and served as Whately professor of political economy from 1840 to 1845.
, elected bencher
of King's Inns
, Dublin, 1861, and acted as legal adviser to the crown in Ireland from 1858 to 1859. He was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
in February 1861, and in 1865 Attorney-General for Ireland
, when he was sworn a member of the Irish privy council
.
As attorney-general he had in 1865 to grapple with the Fenian conspiracy, when he suppressed the Irish People newspaper, and the leaders were arrested and prosecuted. On 4 April 1857 he unsuccessfully contested the seat for Dublin University
, but on 15 July 1865 came in for Portarlington
, and continued to represent that place till November 1868, when he was defeated on the general election in December. He was appointed fourth justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Ireland
, in December 1868, and held the post till June 1882, when he was transferred to the Queen's Bench division.
During the land league agitation he presided at several important political trials. His firm conduct made him obnoxious to those who were breaking the laws, and an attempt was made to murder him while walking in Kildare Street
, Dublin, on 11 November 1882, by Patrick Delaney, who was afterwards tried for the Phoenix Park murders
, and became an approver. His courage never failed him, and he won the respect of his enemies, and the admiration of the general public. He was made one of the Irish church commissioners in July 1869, gazetted a privy councillor in England on 18 May 1870, acted as a commissioner for the great seal from March to December 1874, was a vice-president of the Dublin Statistical Society, and was in 1884 made DCL
of Oxford
.
, near Dublin, 10 August 1887, having married in 1842 Jane, eldest daughter of Samuel Merrick of Cork.
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...
, QC
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(1817 – 1887), was an Irish academic, lawyer and judge.
Background and education
Lawson was born at WaterfordWaterford
Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...
, the eldest son of James Lawson, by Mary Anthony, daughter of Joseph Anthony, and was educated at the endowed school there. Having entered Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, he was elected a scholar in 1836, obtained a senior moderatorship in 1837, and was a gold medallist and first class in ethics and logic. He graduated B.A. 1838, LL.B. 1841, and LL.D. 1850, and served as Whately professor of political economy from 1840 to 1845.
Legal and judicial career
Lawson was called to the Irish bar in 1840, and soon obtained a good practice, especially in the courts of equity. On 29 January 1857 he was gazetted a Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, elected bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of King's Inns
King's Inns
The Honorable Society of King's Inns , is the institution which controls the entry of barristers-at-law into the justice system of Ireland...
, Dublin, 1861, and acted as legal adviser to the crown in Ireland from 1858 to 1859. He was appointed 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...
in February 1861, and in 1865 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...
, when he was sworn a member of the Irish privy council
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...
.
As attorney-general he had in 1865 to grapple with the Fenian conspiracy, when he suppressed the Irish People newspaper, and the leaders were arrested and prosecuted. On 4 April 1857 he unsuccessfully contested the seat for Dublin University
Dublin University (constituency)
University of Dublin is a university constituency in Ireland, which has been used to elect members of various legislative bodies including currently Seanad Éireann. Alternative names are Dublin University or Trinity College, Dublin...
, but on 15 July 1865 came in for Portarlington
Portarlington (UK Parliament constituency)
Portarlington was a rotten borough and is a former United Kingdom Parliament constituency, in Ireland, returning one MP. It was an original constituency represented in Parliament when the Union of Great Britain and Ireland took effect on 1 January 1801....
, and continued to represent that place till November 1868, when he was defeated on the general election in December. He was appointed fourth justice of the Court of Common Pleas, Ireland
Court of Common Pleas (Ireland)
The Court of Common Pleas was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror image of the equivalent court in England...
, in December 1868, and held the post till June 1882, when he was transferred to the Queen's Bench division.
During the land league agitation he presided at several important political trials. His firm conduct made him obnoxious to those who were breaking the laws, and an attempt was made to murder him while walking in Kildare Street
Kildare Street
Kildare Street is a well-known street in Dublin, the capital city of Ireland close to the principal shopping area of Grafton Street and Dawson Street, to which it is joined by Molesworth Street. Some Irish government departments have their offices on this street but it is most famous for Leinster...
, Dublin, on 11 November 1882, by Patrick Delaney, who was afterwards tried for the Phoenix Park murders
Phoenix Park Murders
The Phoenix Park Murders were the fatal stabbings on 6 May 1882 in the Phoenix Park in Dublin of Lord Frederick Cavendish and Thomas Henry Burke. Cavendish was the newly appointed Chief Secretary for Ireland, and Burke was the Permanent Undersecretary, the most senior Irish civil servant...
, and became an approver. His courage never failed him, and he won the respect of his enemies, and the admiration of the general public. He was made one of the Irish church commissioners in July 1869, gazetted a privy councillor in England on 18 May 1870, acted as a commissioner for the great seal from March to December 1874, was a vice-president of the Dublin Statistical Society, and was in 1884 made DCL
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
.
Personal life
Lawson died at ShankillShankill
Shankill can mean:* Belfast Shankill * Belfast Shankill , the 1918–1922 UK Parliament constituency* Shankill, County Antrim, a parish in County Antrim, Northern Ireland...
, near Dublin, 10 August 1887, having married in 1842 Jane, eldest daughter of Samuel Merrick of Cork.
Publications
- ‘Five Lectures on Political Economy,’ 1844.
- ‘Duties and Obligations involved in Mercantile Relations. A lecture,’ 1855.
- ‘Speech at the Election for Members to serve in Parliament for the University of Dublin,’ 1857. With H. Connor he compiled
- ‘Reports of Cases in High Court of Chancery of Ireland during the time of Lord Chancellor Sugden,’ 1865.