William Brabazon (Lord Justice of Ireland)

Sir William Brabazon (died 1552), was an English born soldier and statesman in Ireland. He held office as Vice-Treasurer and Lord Justice of Ireland. His descendants still hold the title Earl of Meath.

Brabazon was descended from the family of Roger le Brabazon, and was the son of John Brabazon of Eastwell, Leicestershire; his mother was a Miss Chaworth. His grandfather, John Brabazon the elder, had been killed at the Battle of Bosworth.

After succeeding to his father's estates, he came to Court. He was present at the Field of the Cloth of Gold in 1520, where he gained royal favour through his skill in jousting. He was knighted on 20 Aug. 1534, and appointed Vice-Treasurer and General Receiver of Ireland.

In a letter from the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Gerald Aylmer to Thomas Cromwell in August 1535 he was described as 'the man that prevented the total ruin and desolation of the kingdom.' In 1536 he and John Barnewall, 3rd Baron Trimlestown beat back an assault by the O'Connor clan on Carbury by burning several villages in Offaly and carrying away great spoil. The next year he made so effective a speech in support of establishing the King's authority in opposition to that of the Pope that he persuaded the Parliament of Ireland to pass the two requisite Acts, the Act of Appeals 1537 and the Act Authorising the King, his Heirs and Successors to be Supreme Head of the Church of Ireland 1537. As a result of this, many religious houses were in 1539 surrendered to King Henry VIII. Brabazon himself was granted the lands of the Abbey of St Thomas, between present day Thomas Street in Dublin and the River Liffey: here he built his town house Thomas Court. The Abbey's lands included Kilruddery, which later became, and remains, the family's principal seat.

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