John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury
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The Right Honourable The Earl of Norbury PC, KC |
|
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas | |
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In office 1800–1827 |
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| Monarch |
George III George IV |
| Preceded by | The Viscount Carleton |
| Succeeded by | ? |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
3 December 1745 Beechwood, County Tipperary |
| Died |
27 July 1831 Great Denmark Street, Dublin |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Spouse(s) | Grace Graham (d. 1827) |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Dublin |
John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury PC, KC (3 December 1745 – 27 July 1831), known as The Lord Norbury between 1800 and 1827, was an Irish lawyer, politician and judge. A greatly controversial figure in his time, he was nicknamed the "Hanging Judge" and was considered to be one of the most corrupt legal figures in Irish history. He was Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas between 1800 and 1827.
Born at Beechwood, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Norbury was the youngest son of Daniel Toler, M.P., and Letitia, daughter of Thomas Otway (1665–1724), of Lissenhall, Nenagh, Co. Tipperary. His elder brother Daniel Toler was also a politician, serving as High Sheriff for Tipperary & also as M.P. for Tipperary. The Toler family was originally from Norfolk but settled in County Tipperary in the 17th century. He was educated at Kilkenny College & at Trinity College, Dublin. He lived at Cabragh House on the corner of the present day Fassaugh Avenue and Rathoath Road in Cabra, Dublin. He also had a townhouse at No 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin.
After graduating from university Norbury entered the legal profession and was called to the Irish Bar in 1770. In 1781 he was appointed a King's Counsel. Norbury was returned to the Irish Parliament for Tralee in 1773, a seat he held until 1780, and later represented Philipstown between 1783 and 1790 and Gorey from 1790 until the Act of Union in 1801. In 1789 he was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland, which he remained until 1798 when he was promoted to Attorney-General for Ireland and sworn of the Irish Privy Council. In his role as Attorney-General he was responsible for the prosecution of those involved in the Irish Rebellion of 1798. According to The Dictionary of National Biography "his indifference to human suffering … disgusted even those who thought the occasion called for firmness on the part of government". In 1799, he brought forward a law which gave the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland power to suspend the Habeas Corpus Act and to impose martial law.
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