John Henry North

John Henry North (c. 1788 – 29 September 1831) was an Irish barrister, judge and Canningite Tory Member of Parliament (MP) in the United Kingdom Parliament.

The son of Richard North and Lucinda North (née Gouldsbury) of Tyrrellspass, Co. Westmeath. His father was a military officer who died while he was still young.

After his father's death, John Henry North was educated by his maternal uncle, the Revd John Henry Gouldsbury and at Trinity College, Dublin where he achieved great academic success. He was called to the Irish Bar (King's Inns) in 1809. He took silk in 1824. On 2 December 1818 he married Letitia Foster, daughter of William Foster, Bishop of Clogher and niece of John Foster, 1st Baron Oriel.

From 1818 until his death, his home in Dublin was 31 Merrion Square, South.

In 1815, North came to public attention as the barrister defending the proprietor of the Dublin Evening Post in a libel trial in which the freedom of the press was questioned. Although the jury found for the plaintiff, minimal damages were awarded and North’s reputation was enhanced.

In 1819, soon after his marriage, North expressed an interest in becoming MP for Drogheda, Co. Louth, but was discouraged by his wife’s cousin, Thomas Skeffington, who had been MP there from 1807 – 1812, who warned him of the likely expense.

Instead he focused on the Dublin University seat, anticipating the departure of the sitting member, W. C. Plunket who was expected soon to be made Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.

This did not happen, but meanwhile North began his active involvement with the Kildare Place Society for Promoting the Education of the Poor of Ireland. In February 1820 he took part in a public debate against Daniel O’Connell about whether the Society did, as its principles and objects asserted, “afford the same facilities for education for every denomination of Christians”. The Society resolved not to investigate the matter and O’Connell resigned, condemning the Society as “sectarian”.

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