John Chevir

John Chevir (c.1410-1474) was an Irish judge and politician of the fifteenth century. He held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and was also one of the first recorded Speakers of the Irish House of Commons.

He was born in Kilkenny, younger son of John Chevir senior, justice of the peace for County Kilkenny. He was the brother of William Chevir (died 1446) who also had a successful, if somewhat turbulent career: William held office as a judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland), Deputy Treasurer of Ireland and Deputy to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

John was at Lincoln's Inn in 1442 and soon afterwards was acting as legal adviser to James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormonde in London. He returned to Ireland before 1450. John and his brother were strong supporters of the Earl of Ormonde's faction, one of the two major parties in Irish politics in the 1430s and 1440s. He was appointed Master of the Rolls in 1450; this was then a less important office than it became later, and its duties were administrative rather than judicial. It was clearly a part-time office since he was returned to the Irish House of Commons at the same time and was one of the first known Speakers. The Parliament of 1463 passed an Act restoring to him the mill and watercourse at Esker; this was probably the manor of Esker near Lucan, Dublin, a Crown property which was often leased to public servants for their lifetime. In 1468 he was appointed joint Lord Chief Justice with Sir Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket and became sole Chief Justice in 1471. He remained in office until his death in 1474. He left part of his estate to his successor in office, Philip Bermingham, who was probably a relation by marriage.

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