William Saurin
Encyclopedia
William Saurin was an Irish lawyer and politician. He was Attorney-General for Ireland
from 1807 to 1822, and for much of that period effective head of the Irish administration.
, the son of a Presbyterian minister of French Huguenot descent. Educated at the University of Dublin
, he was called to the Bar
in 1780 and after a slow start became one of its acknowledged leaders.
and entered the Irish House of Commons
as member for Blessington
to combat it: his speeches against Union were considered among the finest on the topic. That he was appointed Attorney-General for Ireland
despite his opposition to the Union and his repeated refusal to stand for the post-Union Parliament is a tribute to his legal eminence.
His tenure as Attorney-General is remarkable not only for its length but for his effective dominance of the Irish administration, a position never equalled by any other holder of the office. The fact that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
was usually absent and that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
, Lord Manners
was not familiar with the Irish political scene gave Saurin the opportunity to direct the Irish Government of which he took full advantage. As an Ulster Presbyterian it was perhaps natural that he should combine sympathy for the Orange Order with hostility to Catholic Emancipation
; but his perceived bias against Catholics destroyed his popularity.
Saurin's effective control of the Dublin Government was well known to and long tolerated by the British Government; in time however his inflexible opinions and unpopularity made him a political liability. In due course the decision was taken to remove him but compensate him by appointment to the Bench. In 1822 the new Lord Lieutenant, Lord Wellesley
, offered him the vacant position of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
; when Saurin, who had never shown any interest in the Bench, refused he was dismissed outright. Despite his increasing age he returned to private practice for some years.
. The celebrated Australian actor William Saurin Lyster
was his nephew. Saurin died in Dublin in January 1839.
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...
from 1807 to 1822, and for much of that period effective head of the Irish administration.
Background and education
Saurin was born in UlsterUlster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, the son of a Presbyterian minister of French Huguenot descent. Educated at the University of Dublin
University of Dublin
The University of Dublin , corporately designated the Chancellor, Doctors and Masters of the University of Dublin , located in Dublin, Ireland, was effectively founded when in 1592 Queen Elizabeth I issued a charter for Trinity College, Dublin, as "the mother of a university" – this date making it...
, he was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1780 and after a slow start became one of its acknowledged leaders.
Legal career
Saurin was a passionate opponent of the Act of UnionAct of Union 1800
The Acts of Union 1800 describe two complementary Acts, namely:* the Union with Ireland Act 1800 , an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain, and...
and entered 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 Blessington
Blessington (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Blessington in County Wicklow was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons from 1670 until 1800.-History:In the Patriot Parliament of 1689 summoned by King James II, Blessington was represented with two members.-1689–1801:...
to combat it: his speeches against Union were considered among the finest on the topic. That he was appointed 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...
despite his opposition to the Union and his repeated refusal to stand for the post-Union Parliament is a tribute to his legal eminence.
His tenure as Attorney-General is remarkable not only for its length but for his effective dominance of the Irish administration, a position never equalled by any other holder of the office. The fact that the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
was usually absent and that the Lord Chancellor of Ireland
Lord Chancellor of Ireland
The office of Lord Chancellor of Ireland was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801 it was also the highest political office of the Irish Parliament.-13th century:...
, Lord Manners
Thomas Manners-Sutton, 1st Baron Manners
Thomas Manners-Sutton, 1st Baron Manners PC, KC , was a British lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland from 1807 to 1827.-Background and education:...
was not familiar with the Irish political scene gave Saurin the opportunity to direct the Irish Government of which he took full advantage. As an Ulster Presbyterian it was perhaps natural that he should combine sympathy for the Orange Order with hostility to Catholic Emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
; but his perceived bias against Catholics destroyed his popularity.
Saurin's effective control of the Dublin Government was well known to and long tolerated by the British Government; in time however his inflexible opinions and unpopularity made him a political liability. In due course the decision was taken to remove him but compensate him by appointment to the Bench. In 1822 the new Lord Lieutenant, Lord Wellesley
Richard Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley
Richard Colley Wesley, later Wellesley, 1st Marquess Wellesley, KG, PC, PC , styled Viscount Wellesley from birth until 1781, was an Anglo-Irish politician and colonial administrator....
, offered him the vacant position of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland
The Court of King's Bench was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England...
; when Saurin, who had never shown any interest in the Bench, refused he was dismissed outright. Despite his increasing age he returned to private practice for some years.
Personal life
Saurin married Mary O'Brien, sister of William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of ThomondWilliam O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond
William O'Brien, 2nd Marquess of Thomond, 6th Earl of Inchiquin KP PC was an Irish peer. He was born in Ennistymon, County Clare, to Capt. Edward Dominic O'Brien and Mary Carrick...
. The celebrated Australian actor William Saurin Lyster
William Saurin Lyster
William Saurin Lyster , was an impresario, active in Australia.Lyster was born in Dublin, the third son of Chaworth Lyster, a captain in the army, and his wife Anne, née Keightly. His uncle was William Saurin, attorney-general for Ireland, and was partly of French extraction...
was his nephew. Saurin died in Dublin in January 1839.