Sir Richard Reynell, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Reynell, 1st Baronet (1626 – 18 October 1699), was an English-born judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland, becoming Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.
shire, second son of Sir Richard Reynell of East Ogwell and his wife and cousin Mary Reynell. The Reynells were an ancient family who claimed descent from Sir Richard Reynell, of Pyttney who lived in the time of Richard I.
Richard entered Middle Temple in 1642 and was called to the Bar in 1653. He decided to pursue a career in Ireland and was admitted to the Kings Inns in 1658. He built up a large practice and was noted for his willingness to take Catholic clients, which was to cause him trouble later.He was elected to the Irish House of Commons
as member for Athboy
in 1661. He acted as a judge of assize and was made Second Sergeant and knighted in 1673. He enjoyed the particular friendship of Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex, the Lord Lieutenant
.
, the
Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer was failing , he proposed Reynell to replace him. However the anti-Catholic hysteria engendered by the Popish Plot
was at its' height and Reynell's tolerant attitude to Catholics told against him; nor, despite his aristocratic background did he have much influence at Whitehall.When Bysse died Charles II
chose Henry Hene
to replace him. Reynell was however made a baronet, a fairly unusual honour for an Irish judge, in 1678, and a member of the Privy Council
in 1682.
Despite his alleged Catholic sympathies he was unacceptable to the regime of James II
and was dismissed the Bench in 1686. He returned to England and was elected to Parliament as member for Ashburton
in 1690. In 1691 he received his long overdue promotion as Chief Justice of the Irish King's Bench.While his legal ability was not in dispute he had made enemies: in politics he was a Tory
and in 1693 was openly accused of being a Jacobite
; there was also the old accusation that he was excessively tolerant of Catholics.
More substantial perhaps were rumours of failing health: by 1695 he was rumoured to be on the point of death and " past minding any business ". He was dismissed the Bench the same year. He died in London in 1699.
; Reynell brought her body home to Devon for burial.
Background and early career
He was born in DevonDevon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire, second son of Sir Richard Reynell of East Ogwell and his wife and cousin Mary Reynell. The Reynells were an ancient family who claimed descent from Sir Richard Reynell, of Pyttney who lived in the time of Richard I.
Richard entered Middle Temple in 1642 and was called to the Bar in 1653. He decided to pursue a career in Ireland and was admitted to the Kings Inns in 1658. He built up a large practice and was noted for his willingness to take Catholic clients, which was to cause him trouble later.He was elected to the Irish House of Commons
Irish House of Commons
The Irish House of Commons was the lower house of the Parliament of Ireland, that existed from 1297 until 1800. The upper house was the House of Lords...
as member for Athboy
Athboy
Athboy , is a small agricultural town in County Meath in Ireland. It is located on the junction of the N51 and R154 roads. The town is located on the Yellow Ford River, in wooded country near the County Westmeath border.-History:...
in 1661. He acted as a judge of assize and was made Second Sergeant and knighted in 1673. He enjoyed the particular friendship of Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex, the Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
.
Judicial career
On Essex's recommendation Reynell was made a judge of the Court of King's Bench in 1674. Essex praised him as one of the two best judges in Ireland. On the return of the Duke of Ormonde to power in 1677, Essex recommended Reynell to him as one of the few Irish judges of learning who was neither old nor ill. Ormonde agreed and as John BysseJohn Bysse
John Bysse was a member of the Parliament of Ireland during the 1630s and 1640s, was excluded from office during the Interregnum and was one of the leading Irish judges after the restoration of the monarchy.-Biography:...
, the
Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer was failing , he proposed Reynell to replace him. However the anti-Catholic hysteria engendered by the Popish Plot
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
was at its' height and Reynell's tolerant attitude to Catholics told against him; nor, despite his aristocratic background did he have much influence at Whitehall.When Bysse died Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
chose Henry Hene
Henry Hene
Henry Hene or Henn was an English-born judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland, becoming Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.- Background and early career :...
to replace him. Reynell was however made a baronet, a fairly unusual honour for an Irish judge, in 1678, and a member of the Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
in 1682.
Despite his alleged Catholic sympathies he was unacceptable to the regime of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and was dismissed the Bench in 1686. He returned to England and was elected to Parliament as member for Ashburton
Ashburton (UK Parliament constituency)
Ashburton was a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament at Westminster, for one Parliament in 1298 and regularly from 1640 until it was abolished for the 1868 general election. It was one of three Devon borough constituencies newly enfranchised in the Long...
in 1690. In 1691 he received his long overdue promotion as Chief Justice of the Irish King's Bench.While his legal ability was not in dispute he had made enemies: in politics he was a Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
and in 1693 was openly accused of being a Jacobite
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
; there was also the old accusation that he was excessively tolerant of Catholics.
More substantial perhaps were rumours of failing health: by 1695 he was rumoured to be on the point of death and " past minding any business ". He was dismissed the Bench the same year. He died in London in 1699.
Family
Reynell married Hester Beckett in a ceremony at the Kings Inns in 1660. They had several children including Richard who succeeded as second baronet. While they were travelling in France in 1682 Hester died at AbbevilleAbbeville
Abbeville is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Location:Abbeville is located on the Somme River, from its modern mouth in the English Channel, and northwest of Amiens...
; Reynell brought her body home to Devon for burial.