Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet PC
(c. 1700 – 30 September 1776 ) was an English-born politician and judge in Ireland.
Yorke was born in Northampton
, son of the Reverend John Yorke. The future Lord Chancellor
, Philip Yorke
, Ist Earl of Hardwicke
, was a cousin: William, unlike Philip, is said to have been only a mediocre lawyer and there is no doubt that he owed his advancement largely to his family connections. He was educated at the Charterhouse
and the University of Cambridge
, and was called to the Bar about 1723. Not much is recorded of his practice: in 1743 he was appointed a judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas
.
Yorke found life in Ireland agreeable, writing enthusiastic letters home about the hospitality and civilised conversation. For his Chief, Henry Singleton
he had the greatest regard both as man and judge; personal ties were strengthened in 1744 when Yorke married Singleton's widowed niece Charity Cope. Charity brought him a comfortable fortune with which he bought and rebuilt Rathmines
Castle. As Singleton's health began to fail however, Yorke began pushing him towards retirement: eventually in 1753 Singleton was replaced by Yorke and soon after accepted the sinecure of Master of the Rolls in Ireland
.
Ironically, having worked so hard to become Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
, Yorke found he was unsuited to it: in particular, like many judges of the time, he found going on circuit an ordeal. Even before Singleton died in 1759 Yorke was hoping to take his place - in the end he settled for another sinecure, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland. In 1761 he was created a Baronet, of Dublin. He resigned as Chancellor in 1763 and retired to England. He died at Brentford
in 1776: Elrington Ball has an interesting reference to the cause of death as "accidental poisoning", but gives no further details.
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...
(c. 1700 – 30 September 1776 ) was an English-born politician and judge in Ireland.
Yorke was born in Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, son of the Reverend John Yorke. The future Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, Philip Yorke
Philip Yorke
Philip Yorke was an antiquary who developed a great interest in Welsh history and genealogy relatively late in his life. He is the author of The Royal Tribes of Wales .-Background:...
, Ist Earl of Hardwicke
Earl of Hardwicke
Earl of Hardwicke is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1754 for Philip Yorke, 1st Baron Hardwicke, Lord Chancellor of Great Britain from 1737 to 1756. He had already been created Baron Hardwicke, of Hardwicke in the County of Gloucester, in 1733, and was made Viscount...
, was a cousin: William, unlike Philip, is said to have been only a mediocre lawyer and there is no doubt that he owed his advancement largely to his family connections. He was educated at the Charterhouse
Charterhouse School
Charterhouse School, originally The Hospital of King James and Thomas Sutton in Charterhouse, or more simply Charterhouse or House, is an English collegiate independent boarding school situated at Godalming in Surrey.Founded by Thomas Sutton in London in 1611 on the site of the old Carthusian...
and the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, and was called to the Bar about 1723. Not much is recorded of his practice: in 1743 he was appointed a judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas
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...
.
Yorke found life in Ireland agreeable, writing enthusiastic letters home about the hospitality and civilised conversation. For his Chief, Henry Singleton
Henry Singleton (judge)
Henry Singleton was an Irish judge, remembered now mainly for his friendship with Jonathan Swift.He was born in Drogheda, son of John Singleton, Member of Parliament for the town. He went to school in Drogheda, graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1707...
he had the greatest regard both as man and judge; personal ties were strengthened in 1744 when Yorke married Singleton's widowed niece Charity Cope. Charity brought him a comfortable fortune with which he bought and rebuilt Rathmines
Rathmines
Rathmines is a suburb on the southside of Dublin, about 3 kilometres south of the city centre. It effectively begins at the south side of the Grand Canal and stretches along the Rathmines Road as far as Rathgar to the south, Ranelagh to the east and Harold's Cross to the west.Rathmines has...
Castle. As Singleton's health began to fail however, Yorke began pushing him towards retirement: eventually in 1753 Singleton was replaced by Yorke and soon after accepted the sinecure of Master of the Rolls in Ireland
Master of the Rolls in Ireland
The office of Master of the Rolls in Ireland originated in the office of the keeper of the Rolls in the Irish Chancery and became an office granted by letters patent in 1333. It was abolished in 1924....
.
Ironically, having worked so hard to become Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland was the senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas ,known in its early stage as the Common Bench or simply Bench, one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of Common Pleas in England...
, Yorke found he was unsuited to it: in particular, like many judges of the time, he found going on circuit an ordeal. Even before Singleton died in 1759 Yorke was hoping to take his place - in the end he settled for another sinecure, Chancellor of the Exchequer of Ireland. In 1761 he was created a Baronet, of Dublin. He resigned as Chancellor in 1763 and retired to England. He died at Brentford
Brentford
Brentford is a suburban town in west London, England, and part of the London Borough of Hounslow. It is located at the confluence of the River Thames and the River Brent, west-southwest of Charing Cross. Its former ceremonial county was Middlesex.-Toponymy:...
in 1776: Elrington Ball has an interesting reference to the cause of death as "accidental poisoning", but gives no further details.