Lord Chancellor of Ireland
In the early centuries of the office, the Lord Chancellor was a senior cleric, usually though not invariably English. In the 15th and 16th centuries, a nobleman sometimes held the office, acting through a deputy. From the Reformation on, he was usually a trained lawyer, though the practice of appointing a senior cleric only ended with Michael Boyle, Archbishop of Armagh who retired in 1686.
In addition to his judicial functions, the Lord Chancellor had a key political role. Until the Act of Union 1800, he was Speaker of the Irish House of Lords even though he was not always given a peerage. After the Act of Union, he was still required to advise both British and Irish Governments on a range of political and legal matters. He might be expected to steer legislation through the House of Lords: Thomas O'Hagan, 1st Baron O'Hagan was created a peer so that he might assist in passing the Supreme Court of Judicature Act. Edward Gibson, 1st Baron Ashbourne was a member of the British Cabinet, but this was exceptional.
Read more about this topic: Court Of Chancery (Ireland)
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