Walter Cowley

Walter Cowley (c.1500 – 1548) was an Irish lawyer and politician who was the first holder of the office of Principal Solicitor for Ireland, which was created for him. He was a client of Thomas Cromwell, and later of John Alan, the Lord Chancellor of Ireland, which ultimately led to his downfall. He is best remembered as an ancestor of the 1st Duke of Wellington.

The Colley family originated in Rutland, where they were long associated with the village of Glaston. Records show that Walter Colley and son Robert moved to Ireland about 1500 as merchants from Bristol. Robert Cowley, though sometimes referred to as Walter's brother, was almost certainly his son. Robert moved to Ireland about 1500, which was probably the year of Walter's birth, and had a highly successful career, becoming Master of the Rolls in Ireland, but ultimately fell from power about 1540.

By the mid 1530s Walter had developed political ambitions of his own; he and his father both became clients of Thomas Cromwell. This led to a clash with Patrick Barnewall, another client of Cromwell; Walter clearly hoped to replace Barnewall as Solicitor General for Ireland, and did replace him as Receiver of Customs for Drogheda. Both Cowleys sought to blacken Barnewall's name, accusing him in particular of questioning the King's authority, a very serious matter given the ruthlessness with which Henry VIII dealt with dissent. Barnewall was so alarmed that he offered to resign in Walter's favour; but Cromwell wished to retain the services of both men, and a separate office of Principal Solicitor for Ireland was created for Walter. Odd though this arrangement may seem, it probably helped to alleviate the burden of work for the two senior Law Officers, and continued for many years after Walter's removal.

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