Richard Pyne

Sir Richard Pyne (1644 – December 1709) was an Irish barrister and judge. He held office as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland from 1695-1709.

He was born in County Cork, the fourth son of Nicholas Pyne of Monageely. He matriculated from Queen's College, Oxford in 1662, was called to the English Bar in 1669 and to the Irish Bar in 1674. In 1686 he became counsel to the Irish Revenue Commissioners. Although he was willing to accept preferment under the Roman Catholic King James II, he was a strong Protestant, and a Whig in politics, and was later a strong supporter of the Revolution of 1688.

After the Battle of the Boyne in 1690, he was appointed joint Commissioner of the Great Seal of Ireland with Sir Richard Ryves and Sir Robert Rochfort. Early in 1691 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, at the personal request of William III. This was a notable mark of royal favour, as the office had already been promised to John Osborne, the Prime Serjeant, and the decision to prefer Pyne may reflect Osborne's growing unpopularity with his political superiors.

He was promoted to the office of Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench for Ireland in 1695. He held the latter office until his death, although he seems to have been in failing health in his last years, and frequently visited Bath in hope of a cure. As Chief Justice he clashed with the powerful cleric William King, Bishop of Derry and future Archbishop of Dublin, who accused him of interfering in Church affairs. He is listed as one of the trustees of the King's Inns in 1706.

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