The Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer was the Baron (

judge A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a panel of judges. A judge hears all the witnesses and any other evidence presented by the barristers or solicitors of the case, assesses the credibility an ...

) who presided over the

Court of Exchequer (Ireland) The Court of Exchequer (Ireland) or the Irish Exchequer of Pleas, was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was the mirror image of the equivalent court in England. The Court of Exchequer was one of the four royal courts of justic ...

. The Irish Court of Exchequer was a mirror of the equivalent court in England and was one of the four courts which sat in the building which is still called The Four Courts in Dublin. The title Chief Baron was first used in 1309 by

Walter de Islip Walter de Islip, or de Istlep (died after 1342) was an English-born cleric, statesman, and judge in fourteenth-century Ireland. He was the first Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer; he also held the offices of Treasurer of Ireland, Chief Escheator ...

. In the early centuries of its existence, it was a political as well as a judicial office, and as late as 1442 the

Lord Treasurer of Ireland The Lord High Treasurer of Ireland was the head of the Exchequer of Ireland, chief financial officer of the Kingdom of Ireland. The designation ''High'' was added in 1695. After the Acts of Union 1800 created the United Kingdom of Great Britain a ...

thought it necessary to recommend that the Chief Baron should always be a properly trained

lawyer A lawyer is a person who practices law. The role of a lawyer varies greatly across different legal jurisdictions. A lawyer can be classified as an advocate, attorney, barrister, canon lawyer, civil law notary, counsel, counselor, solic ...

(which Michael Gryffin, the Chief Baron at the time, was not). There is a cryptic reference in the

Patent Roll The patent rolls (Latin: ''Rotuli litterarum patentium'') are a series of administrative records compiled in the English, British and United Kingdom Chancery, running from 1201 to the present day. Description The patent rolls comprise a register ...

for 1390 to the Liberty of

Ulster Ulster (; ga, Ulaidh or ''Cúige Uladh'' ; sco, label= Ulster Scots, Ulstèr or ''Ulster'') is one of the four traditional Irish provinces. It is made up of nine counties: six of these constitute Northern Ireland (a part of the United King ...

having its own Chief Baron. The last Chief Baron, The Rt Hon.

Christopher Palles Christopher Palles (25 December 1831 – 14 February 1920) was an Irish barrister, Solicitor-General, Attorney-General and a judge for over 40 years. His biographer, Vincent Thomas Hyginus Delany, described him as "the greatest of the Irish judg ...

, continued to hold the title after the Court was merged into a new

High Court of Justice in Ireland The High Court of Justice in Ireland was the court created by the Supreme Court of Judicature Act (Ireland) 1877 to replace the existing court structure in Ireland. Its creation mirrored the reform of the courts of England and Wales five years e ...

in 1878, until his retirement in 1916, when the office lapsed.Delaney, V.T.H. ''Christopher Palles'' Allen Figgis and Co Dublin 1960

Chief Barons of the Irish Exchequer

1309 Ball, F. Elrington ''The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921'' London John Murray 1926 * William de Meones 1311 * Nicholas de Balscote 1313 * Richard le Brun 1319 * Adam de Harvington (or Herwynton) 1324 *

Thomas de Montpellier Thomas de Montpellier, or de Monte Pessulano (died after 1347) was a fourteenth-century Anglo- French judge and Crown official, much of whose career was spent in Ireland. He held a number of important lay and clerical offices including Dean of S ...

1327 * Roger de Birthorpe 1327 * John de Braideston 1329 *

William de Tickhill William de Tickhill (born c.1290- died after 1357) was an English priest, Crown official and judge who served very briefly as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He took his name from his birthplace Tickhill, now in Doncaster but then in the West ...

1331 *

Robert le Poer Robert le Poer (died c.1346) was an Irish judge and Crown official who held the offices of Lord High Treasurer of Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Family Francis Elrington Ball, in his definitive study of the pre-1921 Irish judi ...

, first term 1331O'Hart, John ''Irish Pedigrees'' 5th Edition Dublin 1892 *

Thomas atte Crosse Thomas atte Crosse, also called Thomas de Crosse (died after 1348) was an English cleric, Crown official and judge, who had a highly successful career in both England and Ireland. Little is recorded about his early years, but by 1336 he was referr ...

1335 *

Hugh de Burgh Hugh de Burgh (; ; died 1352) was an Irish lawyer, Crown official and judge who held the offices of Lord Treasurer of Ireland (1340–44 and 1349–52) and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer (1337–39 and 1344–51),Ball, F. Elrington ''The ...

, first term 1337 *

, second term 1339 *

, second term 1344 *

Robert de Emeldon Robert de Emeldon (died 1355) was an English-born Crown official and judge who spent much of his career in Ireland. He held several important public offices, including Attorney-General for Ireland, Lord High Treasurer of Ireland and Chief Baron o ...

1351 Gilbert, Sir John ''History of the Viceroys of Ireland'' Dublin J. Duffy and Co. 1865 *

John de Burnham John de Burnham (died 1363) was an English-born cleric, judge and Crown official who spent much of his career in Ireland. He held office as Lord High Treasurer of Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He spent many years trying to clear ...

1355Connolly, Philomena ''The Proceedings against John de Burnham, Treasurer of Ireland 1343-9'' Cambridge University Press 1993 *

Robert de Holywood Robert de Holywood (died 1384) was an Irish judge and landowner who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was the ancestor of the Holywood family of Artane Castle, and of the St. Lawrence family, Earls of Howth. He was a substa ...

, first term 1363Otway-Ruthven, A.J. ''A History of Medieval Ireland'' Barnes and Noble reissue New York 1993 *

John Keppock John Keppock (died 1404) was an Irish judge of the late fourteenth century, who held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He became a political figure of some importance. He was the son of Simon Ke ...

1364 Hart, A.R. ''History of the King's Serjeant-at-law in Ireland'' Dublin Four Courts Press 2000 *

, second term 1367 * Stephen Bray first term 1376 * Henry Mitchell 1376 *Stephen Bray, second term 1377 * Thomas Bache, first term 1382 * William de Karlell 1383 * Thomas Bache, second term 1384 *

William Skrene William Skrene (c. 1357/8–1419/20) was an Irish-born barrister and judge who spent most of his adult life in England, where he became King's Serjeant and a judge of assize. He also served briefly as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer in 1395-7 ...

1395Foss, Edward ''The Judges of England'' London Longman Green Brown and Longmans 1851 *

William Tynbegh William Tynbegh, or de Thinbegh (c.1370-1424) was an Irish lawyer who had a long and distinguished career as a judge, holding office as Chief Justice of all three of the courts of common law and as Lord High Treasurer of Ireland. His career is un ...

, first term 1397Beresford David "Tynbegh, William " ''Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography'' 2009 *

Richard Rede Richard Rede (died after 1416) was a leading Irish statesman and judge of the late fourteenth and early fifteenth centuries. He held office as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Deputy Lord Chancellor of Ireland and ...

1399Smyth, Constantine Joseph ''Chronicle of the Law Officers of Ireland'' London Butterworths 1839 *

Robert Sutton Robert Sutton may refer to: Politicians *Robert Sutton (died 1414), MP for Lincoln * Robert Sutton (MP for Derby), see Derby * Robert Dudley alias Sutton (died 1539), MP *Robert Sutton, 1st Baron Lexinton (1594–1668), Member of Parliament for No ...

1401 * Thomas Bache, third term 1403 *

, second term 1405 * James Fitzwilliam 1413 *

, third term 1415 * James Uriell 1417D'Alton, John ''History of County Dublin'' Dublin Hodges and Smith Dublin 1838 *

James Cornwalsh James Cornwalsh (died 1441) was an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was a political figure of considerable importance in fifteenth-century Ireland, and a supporter of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, James B ...

, first term 1420Beresford, David "Cornwalsh, James" ''Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography'' *

Richard Sydgrave Richard Sydgrave or Segrave (died 1425) was an Irish judge who held office as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer and served as deputy to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland. His family became among the foremost landowners in County Meath, and also held ...

1423 *

, second term 1426 *

John Cornwalsh Sir John Cornwalsh, or Cornwalysch (died 1472) was an Irish judge who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Beresford, David "Cornwalsh, James" ''Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography'' His tenure was notable for the fact tha ...

, first term 1441 * Michael Gryffin or Gryffen 1441Griffiths, Ralph A. ''The Reign of Henry VI- the Exercise of Royal Authority'' Ernest Benn Ltd 1981 *

, second term 1446 * Thomas Bathe, 1st

Baron Louth Baron Louth is a title in the Peerage of Ireland. It has been created twice. History The title was created firstly c. 1458 for Sir Thomas Bathe, later Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. Although he had at least one son, John Bathe of Ardee, the ...

1473 * Henry Duffe 1478 *

Thomas Plunket Thomas Plunket (1785–1839) was an Irish soldier in the British Army's 95th Rifles regiment. He served throughout the Peninsular War and later in the Waterloo Campaign of 1815. He is remembered for killing a French general during the Peninsular ...

1480 * Oliver FitzEustace 1482 * John Burnell 1482 ''Deputy'' * John Estrete 1487 ''Deputy'' * John Wyse 1492 * Clement Fitzleones 1493 ''Deputy'' * Walter Ivers 1494 *

John Topcliffe John Topcliffe (died 1513) was an English-born judge who spent much of his career in Ireland, where he held office as Chief Justice of each of the three courts of common law in turn.Ball, F. Elrington ''The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921'' John Murra ...

1496Chrimes, S.B. ''Henry VII'' Yale University Press 1999 *

Walter St. Lawrence Walter St. Lawrence (c.1445–1504) was an Anglo-Irish nobleman, lawyer and judge. He held the offices of Attorney General for Ireland and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was one of the younger sons of Christopher St Lawrence, 2nd Baron ...

1496 *

Thomas Kent Thomas may refer to: People * List of people with given name Thomas * Thomas (name) * Thomas (surname) * Saint Thomas (disambiguation) * Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274) Italian Dominican friar, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church * Thomas the A ...

1504Kenny, Colum ''King's Inns and the Kingdom of Ireland'' Irish Academic Press Dublin 1992 * Richard Golding 1511 * Bartholomew Dillon 1514 * Richard Golding, second term 1515 * Patrick Finglas 1520 *

Gerald Aylmer Gerald Edward Aylmer, (30 April 1926, Greete, Shropshire – 17 December 2000, Oxford) was an English historian of 17th century England. Gerald Aylmer was the only child of Edward Arthur Aylmer, from an Anglo-Irish naval family, and Phoebe ...

25 June 1534 * Patrick Finglas, second term, 1535 *

Richard Delahide Richard Delahide (died 1540) was an Irish judge of the sixteenth century, who held the offices of Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. His career was seriously damaged by the Rebellion of Silken Thomas, ...

1537McCormack, Anthony M. "Delahide (De la Hide), Richard ''Cambridge Dictionary of National Biography'' * James Bathe 1540 * Lucas Dillon 1570Crawford, Jon G. '' A Star Chamber Court in Ireland-the Court of Castle Chamber 1571-1641'' Dublin Four Courts Press 2005 * Robert Napier 1593Barry, Judith Hudson "Napier, Sir Robert (d.1615)" '' Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' *

Edmund Pelham Sir Edmund (or Edward) Pelham (c.1533 – 1606) was a member of the distinguished Pelham family of Laughton, East Sussex. He was a judge in Ireland who held the office of Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, and was noteworthy as the first judge ...

1602 *

Humphrey Winch Sir Humphrey Winch (1555–1625) was an English-born politician and judge. He had a distinguished career in both Ireland and England, but his reputation was seriously damaged by the Leicester witch trials of 1616, which resulted in the hanging ...

8 November 1606 *

John Denham John Denham may refer to: * John Denham (died 1556 or later), English MP for Shaftesbury * John Denham (judge), (1559–1639), father of the poet below, and one of the Ship Money judges * John Denham (poet) (1615–1669), English poet * John Denham ...

1609Wedgwood, C.V. ''The King's Peace'' William Collins and Son 1955 * William Methold, or Methwold 1612 *Sir John Blennerhassett 1621 * Richard Bolton 1625 *

Edward Bolton Sir Edward Bolton (1592–1659) was an English-born judge who served for many years as Solicitor General for Ireland before succeeding his father Sir Richard Bolton as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. He was the only surviving son of Richard B ...

1639 *

Miles Corbet Miles Corbet (1595–1662) was an English politician, recorder of Yarmouth and Regicide. Life He was the son of Sir Thomas Corbet of Sprowston, Norfolk and the younger brother of Sir John Corbet, 1st Baronet, MP for Great Yarmouth from 16 ...

1655 *

John Bysse John Bysse (c.1602–1680) was a member of the Parliament of Ireland during the 1630s and 1640s. He was excluded from office during the Interregnum, but became one of the most senior Irish judges after the Restoration of Charles II. Biography ...

1660Sir John Gilbert ''History of the City of Dublin '' J. McGlashan 1859 * Henry Hene 1680 * Stephen Rice 1687 * John Hely 5 December 1690 *

Sir Robert Doyne Sir Robert Doyne (1651–1733) was an Irish barrister and politician. Judge He was member of the Irish House of Commons for New Ross from 1692 to 1695, and later a distinguished judge who served as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer from 1695 ...

10 May 1695Haydn, Joseph ''Book of Dignities'' London Longman Green Brown and Longmans 1851 *

Nehemiah Donnellan Nehemiah Donnellan (a.k.a. Fearganainm Ó Domhnalláin) (fl. c. 1560-1609) was Archbishop of Tuam. Background Donellan was born in the county of Galway, a son of Mael Sechlainn Ó Dónalláin, by his wife Sisly, daughter of William Ó Cellaigh o ...

27 December 1703 * Richard Freeman 25 June 1706 * Robert Rochfort 12 June 1707 *

Joseph Deane Joseph Deane PC (1674–1715) was an Irish politician and judge who became Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. His sudden and premature death was popularly believed to be due to a chill caught when watching an eclipse of the sun. Background He ...

14 October 1714Mason, W.M. ''The History and Antiquities of the Collegiate and Cathedral Church of St Patrick's Dublin'' Dublin 1820 * Jeffrey Gilbert 16 June 1715 * Bernard Hale 9 June 1722 * Thomas Dalton 2 September 1725 *

Thomas Marlay Thomas Marlay (c.1680–1756) was an Irish politician and judge, who ended his career as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. He is remembered chiefly for beginning the rebuilding of Celbridge Abbey, and as the grandfather of the statesman Henry Grat ...

29 September 1730 * John Bowes 21 December 1741 * Edward Willes 11 March 1757''An Irish Chief Baron of the last Century'' The Irish Monthly Vol. 19 (1891) * Anthony Foster 5 September 1766 * James Dennis (afterwards Baron Tracton) 3 July 1777 *

Walter Hussey Burgh Walter Hussey Burgh SL (; ; 1742 – 1783) was an Irish statesman, barrister and judge who sat in the Irish House of Commons, served as Prime Serjeant (1777–79, 1782) and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer (1782–83). He was considered t ...

2 July 1782 * Barry Yelverton (afterwards 1st

Viscount Avonmore Viscount Avonmore is a title in the Peerage of Ireland created on 29 December 1800 for the former Attorney-General for Ireland and Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer for Ireland, Barry Yelverton, 1st Baron Yelverton. He had been created Baron Yel ...

) 29 November 1783 * Standish O'Grady (afterwards 1st Viscount Guillamore) 5 October 1805 * Henry Joy 6 January 1831 * Stephen Woulfe 20 July 1838 *

Maziere Brady Sir Maziere Brady, 1st Baronet, PC (Ire) (20 July 1796 – 13 April 1871) was an Irish judge, notable for his exceptionally long, though not particularly distinguished tenure as Lord Chancellor of Ireland. Background Brady was born at his parent ...

, 11 February 1840 *

David Richard Pigot David Richard Pigot, PC, KC (c. 1796 – 22 December 1873) was one of the leading Irish judges of his time. His children included John Edward Pigot, a noted music collector and one of the founders of the National Gallery of Ireland. His grand ...

1 September 1846 *

10 February 1874

References

{{Irish courts pre-1922 Irish Exchequer Irish Exchequer