William Domville
Encyclopedia
William Domville was a leading Irish politician and barrister of the Restoration
era. Due to the great trust which the Crown had in his ability, he remained Attorney General for Ireland throughout the reign of Charles II
, and it has been argued that it was in his term of office that the Attorney General emerged as pre-eminent legal adviser to the Crown.
family. His father Gilbert had moved to Ireland and become Clerk of the Crown ; he sat in the Irish House of Commons
as member for Kildare
in 1613-1615. William's mother was Margaret Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, Archbishop of Dublin
.
During the English Civil War
, Domville's loyalty to the Crown was never questioned, and at the Restoration he was knighted and made Attorney General. He was elected to Parliament as member for Dublin, and was the Crown's choice as Speaker
. However he faced opposition from the able and ambitious Prime Serjeant, Sir Audley Mervyn
, who, apparently by spreading the story that Domville was sympathetic to Roman Catholics, gained the support of the majority.The King, not anxious for a confrontation, stated that the choice should be that of the M.P.s, and Mervyn was elected.
The next few years saw a struggle between Domville and Mervyn for the role of principal legal adviser to the Crown. Domville emerged as the winner : both the King and the Duke of Ormonde trusted him, whereas Mervyn had a reputation for corruption and his loyalty to the Crown was suspect. From about 1663 it seems that Ormond simply ignored Mervyn , taking advice only from Domville. This it has been argued marked the effective end of the Prime Serjeant's role as legal adviser and the supremacy of the Attorney General.
After the death of Charles II, Domville was retained briefly by James II
before being replaced by Richard Nagle
; given his age it is unlikely that he objected to retirement. He died in July 1689 and was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
, Secretary of State to James I
. They had four sons and three daughters. Their sons included Sir William Domville junior, member of Parliament for Armagh
and Sir Thomas Domvile, the first of the Domvile Baronets
.The best known of their children is their daughter Lucy, a famous beauty who married the natural philosopher William Molyneux
. Tragically Lucy went blind and died young leaving one surviving child , the astronomer Samuel Molyneux
.
Restoration (1660)
The term Restoration in reference to the year 1660 refers to the restoration of Charles II to his realms across the British Empire at that time.-England:...
era. Due to the great trust which the Crown had in his ability, he remained Attorney General for Ireland throughout the reign of 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...
, and it has been argued that it was in his term of office that the Attorney General emerged as pre-eminent legal adviser to the Crown.
Life
He was born in Dublin to an ancient CheshireCheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
family. His father Gilbert had moved to Ireland and become Clerk of the Crown ; he sat in 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 Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
in 1613-1615. William's mother was Margaret Jones, daughter of Thomas Jones, Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, Domville's loyalty to the Crown was never questioned, and at the Restoration he was knighted and made Attorney General. He was elected to Parliament as member for Dublin, and was the Crown's choice as Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
. However he faced opposition from the able and ambitious Prime Serjeant, Sir Audley Mervyn
Audley Mervyn
Sir Audley Mervyn of Trillick was a lawyer and politician in Ireland. M.P. for County Tyrone and Speaker of the Irish House of Commons 1661-1666....
, who, apparently by spreading the story that Domville was sympathetic to Roman Catholics, gained the support of the majority.The King, not anxious for a confrontation, stated that the choice should be that of the M.P.s, and Mervyn was elected.
The next few years saw a struggle between Domville and Mervyn for the role of principal legal adviser to the Crown. Domville emerged as the winner : both the King and the Duke of Ormonde trusted him, whereas Mervyn had a reputation for corruption and his loyalty to the Crown was suspect. From about 1663 it seems that Ormond simply ignored Mervyn , taking advice only from Domville. This it has been argued marked the effective end of the Prime Serjeant's role as legal adviser and the supremacy of the Attorney General.
After the death of Charles II, Domville was retained briefly by James II
James II
James II may refer to:* James II, Count of La Marche , King Consort of Naples* James II , the second EP by Mancunian band James* James II of Aragon , King of Sicily...
before being replaced by Richard Nagle
Richard Nagle
Sir Richard Nagle was an Irish politician and lawyer. He held the positions of Attorney-General for Ireland, Speaker of the Irish House of Commons, Lord Justice of Ireland and Secretary of State and War for Ireland under King James II. He fled to France in 1691, joining James II at Saint Germain,...
; given his age it is unlikely that he objected to retirement. He died in July 1689 and was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral.
Family
Domville married Bridget Lake, daughter of Sir Thomas LakeThomas Lake
Sir Thomas Lake was Secretary of State to James I of England. He was a Member of Parliament in 1604, 1614, 1625 and 1626....
, Secretary of State to James I
James I
James I may refer to:* King James I of Aragon * King James I of Sicily , also King James II of Aragon* James I, Count of La Marche , Count of Ponthieu...
. They had four sons and three daughters. Their sons included Sir William Domville junior, member of Parliament for Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
and Sir Thomas Domvile, the first of the Domvile Baronets
Domvile Baronets
There have been two Baronetcies created for persons with the surname Domvile, one in the Baronetage of Ireland and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom...
.The best known of their children is their daughter Lucy, a famous beauty who married the natural philosopher William Molyneux
William Molyneux
William Molyneux FRS was an Irish natural philosopher and writer on politics.He was born in Dublin to Samuel Molyneux , lawyer and landowner , and his wife, Anne, née Dowdall. The second of five children, William Molyneux came from a relatively prosperous Anglican background...
. Tragically Lucy went blind and died young leaving one surviving child , the astronomer Samuel Molyneux
Samuel Molyneux
Samuel Molyneux FRS , son of William Molyneux, was an 18th-century member of the British parliament from Kew and an amateur astronomer whose work with James Bradley attempting to measure stellar parallax led to the discovery of the aberration of light...
.