Thomas Marlay
Encyclopedia
Thomas Marlay was an Irish judge, remembered now as the builder of Celbridge Abbey
and as the grandfather of the statesman Henry Grattan
.
His mother Elizabeth Morgan was from County Sligo; his father Anthony was a recent arrival from Newcastle-upon-Tyne where his own father Sir John Marlay had been a leading local politician. He was educated at the University of Dublin, and unlike most barristers of his time was a considerable scholar, being awarded the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Laws. He rapidly built up a large practice at the Bar and was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland
in 1720 and Attorney-General for Ireland
in 1727. He was elevated to the Bench as Lord Chief Baron in 1730 and became Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland in 1741.
His most notable trial as Lord Chief Justice was the so-called Annesley perjury case; one of several trials arising from the celebrated legal battle between James Annesley
and Richard Annesley, 6th Earl of Anglesey
as to which of them was the rightful holder of the Anglesey title and estates. The trial was notable for lasting twenty-two hours without a break and Marlay, who would normally have had 2 or 3 colleagues to support him conducted it virtually singlehanded.
A workload so heavy soon affected his health and from 1749 he was too unwell to go on circuit; he retired on health grounds in 1751. He died in Drogheda on a visit to his colleague Henry Singleton
. He was a popular figure and his death seems to have been genuinely mourned: a Dublin paper published verses praising his gentleness, perfect manners and scholarship (the last being rather unusual among Irish judges of the time).
Marlay built the present Celbridge Abbey
. He married Mary de Laune : their surviving children included Richard, Bishop of Clonfert and later of Waterford; and Mary, mother of the statesman Henry Grattan
.
Celbridge Abbey
-House:The house was built in 1697 by Bartholomew Van Homrigh, who at the time was the Lord Mayor of Dublin. It is, however, more famous, the childhood and later adult home his daughter, Esther Van Homrigh, , who was Dean Swift's 'Vanessa'...
and as the grandfather of the statesman Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
.
His mother Elizabeth Morgan was from County Sligo; his father Anthony was a recent arrival from Newcastle-upon-Tyne where his own father Sir John Marlay had been a leading local politician. He was educated at the University of Dublin, and unlike most barristers of his time was a considerable scholar, being awarded the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Doctor of Laws. He rapidly built up a large practice at the Bar and 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 1720 and 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...
in 1727. He was elevated to the Bench as Lord Chief Baron in 1730 and became Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland in 1741.
His most notable trial as Lord Chief Justice was the so-called Annesley perjury case; one of several trials arising from the celebrated legal battle between James Annesley
James Annesley
James Annesley was an Irishman who had a claim to be the Earl of Anglesey. He is perhaps best known today for partially inspiring the novel Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson.-Life:...
and Richard Annesley, 6th Earl of Anglesey
Richard Annesley, 6th Earl of Anglesey
Richard Annesley, 6th Earl of Anglesey , known as The Lord Altham between 1727 and 1737, was an Irish peer and governor of Wexford. He is known for the doubts surrounding his claim to the barony of Altham, and for the questions as to the legitimacy of his marriages and therefore his son's claim to...
as to which of them was the rightful holder of the Anglesey title and estates. The trial was notable for lasting twenty-two hours without a break and Marlay, who would normally have had 2 or 3 colleagues to support him conducted it virtually singlehanded.
A workload so heavy soon affected his health and from 1749 he was too unwell to go on circuit; he retired on health grounds in 1751. He died in Drogheda on a visit to his colleague Henry Singleton
Henry Singleton
Henry Earl Singleton was an electrical engineer, business executive, and rancher/land owner. Singleton made significant contributions to aircraft inertial guidance and was elected to the National Academy of Engineering. He co-founded Teledyne, Inc., one of Americas most successful conglomerates...
. He was a popular figure and his death seems to have been genuinely mourned: a Dublin paper published verses praising his gentleness, perfect manners and scholarship (the last being rather unusual among Irish judges of the time).
Marlay built the present Celbridge Abbey
Celbridge Abbey
-House:The house was built in 1697 by Bartholomew Van Homrigh, who at the time was the Lord Mayor of Dublin. It is, however, more famous, the childhood and later adult home his daughter, Esther Van Homrigh, , who was Dean Swift's 'Vanessa'...
. He married Mary de Laune : their surviving children included Richard, Bishop of Clonfert and later of Waterford; and Mary, mother of the statesman Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan
Henry Grattan was an Irish politician and member of the Irish House of Commons and a campaigner for legislative freedom for the Irish Parliament in the late 18th century. He opposed the Act of Union 1800 that merged the Kingdoms of Ireland and Great Britain.-Early life:Grattan was born at...
.