John Plunkett
| John Plunkett | |
|---|---|
| 5th Attorney-General of New South Wales | |
|
In office 17 September 1836 – 5 June 1856 |
|
| Preceded by | John Kinchela |
| Succeeded by | William Manning |
| 2nd Solicitor-General of New South Wales | |
|
In office 14 June 1832 – 16 September 1836 |
|
| Preceded by | John Stephen |
| Succeeded by | William à Beckett |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
John Hubert Plunkett June 1802 Mount Plunkett, County Roscommon, Ireland |
| Died | 9 May 1869 |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
| Occupation | Politician |
John Hubert Plunkett (June 1802 – 9 May 1869) was Attorney-General of New South Wales, an appointed member of the Legislative Council 1836–41, 1843–56, 1857–58 and 1861–69; he was also elected as a member of the Legislative Assembly 1856–60.
John Hubert Plunkett was born at Mount Plunkett, County Roscommon, Ireland, younger of twins and son of George Plunkett, and his wife Eileen, née O'Kelly. Plunkett entered Trinity College, Dublin, in November 1819 (graduating B.A. in 1824) and was called to the Irish bar in 1826 and later to the English bar. He practised as a barrister on the Connaught circuit in 1826-32 with distinction, fought for Catholic Emancipation, and was given credit by Daniel O'Connell for the success of the Whig candidates in Connaught at the general election in 1830.
In 1831 Plunkett was appointed Solicitor-General of New South Wales on a salary of £800. Plunkett, his wife, sister and four female servants arrived in Sydney on the Southworth in June 1832. The attorney-general at the time, John Kinchela, was deaf and Plunkett had to undertake most of his duties. In February 1836 Kinchela retired from his position, Plunkett took his place. Later in 1836 Plunkett was associated with Governor Richard Bourke in bringing about a new church and schools act. He was determined to establish equality before the law, first by extending jury rights to emancipists and he then extended legal protections to convicts and assigned servants. Finally Plunkett attempted to legally protect aboriginals, and twice charged the perpetrators of the Myall Creek massacre with murder. The first trial resulted in acquittal on a technical point; however the second resulted in a conviction. Plunkett's Church Act of 1836 disestablished the Church of England and established legal equality between Anglicans, Catholics, Presbyterians and later Methodists.
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