John Parker (Irish judge)

John Parker (c.1500–1564) was an English-born merchant, politician and

Master of the Rolls in Ireland; to be appointed to the latter office was a notable achievement for a man who began his career as a cloth-maker and had no legal qualifications which would fit him for judicial office.^[1] He also sat in the Irish House of Commons in the Parliament of 1560, and was a member of the Irish Privy Council. As a politician, he was noted for leading the opposition to the Earl of Sussex, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, in the early 1560s.^[2]

Background and business career

He was a native of

licence to import dyed wool. He also obtained permission to take fish from the River Bann.^[1]

He seems to have been a sincere religious reformer, although like many reformers he personally did very well out of the

Westmeath.^[2] In his last years he was attempting to purchase Kilcormac Abbey in County Offaly. Despite his apparent wealth Parker, like so many notable figures of the Tudor era, died in debt. He was generous in disposing of land at affordable prices, which increased his popularity.^[3]

Dissolution of the Monasteries

Political and judicial career

He is first recorded in Ireland about 1540 as secretary to the Lord Deputy, Sir Anthony St. Leger, who placed great reliance on him.^[2] After St.Leger's recall his influence declined for a time. He became Constable of Dublin Castle in 1543 and organised the defence of Carrickfergus in 1551. He entered the Irish House of Commons as MP for Trim in 1560, and was Chief Serjeant for Connacht, and a Royal Commissioner in Munster in 1562.

Although he held a number of quasi-judicial posts, such as Marshal of the Dublin Courts and usher in the

revenues, and was deprived of his seat on the council and briefly imprisoned; again his fortunes were tied to those of St. Leger, who was once more in disgrace.^[3]

However, he was restored to royal favour in 1556.

Dispute with the Earl of Sussex

Parker's later years were overshadowed by his bitter quarrel with the Lord Deputy,

Shane O'Neill the next year.^[2] By 1562 however their mutual hostility was a major factor in Irish politics. Sussex's policies, particularly his levying of taxes, had aroused much opposition in the Pale (i.e. the four eastern counties which were under secure English rule). Parker, despite being English himself, emerged as one of the leaders of "the gentlemen of the Pale" and used his judicial authority to declare that Sussex had exceeded his legal powers. Sussex in turn accused Parker of disloyalty to the Queen and of being the author of a scurrilous book vilifying him.^[4]

Another source of contention was religion: Sussex, who had originally been appointed Lord Deputy by the devoutly Catholic

royal pardon for his recusancy.^[2] After the accession of Elizabeth I

, with the Protestant reformers once more dominant, Parker, in turn, accused Sussex of a lack of religious zeal.

At the request of the gentry of the Pale, the Queen was persuaded to set up a

impeach him, but without success. The Commissioners praised Parker for his religious zeal: whether this might have led to further career advancement is unknown, since he died the same year.^[2]

Family

Parker made an advantageous marriage to the twice-widowed Marian St Lawrence, daughter of

Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. He had a son and a daughter. The noted Jacobite conspirator Colonel John Parker (c. 1651 – c. 1719) and his son General Gervais Parker (1695-1750) were descended from him.^[5]

Character

Elrington Ball describes Parker as an extraordinary individual who from his modest beginning as a merchant in a small English town, despite having no legal training, rose to become a senior Irish statesman and judge,[1] powerful enough to challenge the Earl of Sussex and able to win the respect of other leading figures in the Irish administration, such as Sussex's successor Nicholas Arnold.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Ball pp. 140–141
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.205
^ ^a ^b ^c Barry, Judy "Parker, John" Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography
^ ^a ^b ^c Dunlop, Robert (1896). "Radcliffe, Thomas" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 47. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 139.
^ Alger, John Goldworth (1895). "Parker, John (fl.1705)" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 43. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 247.

[judges-1] Ball pp. 140–141

[Ball-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221–1921 John Murray London 1926 Vol.1 p.205

[Barry-3] Barry, Judy "Parker, John" Cambridge Dictionary of Irish Biography

[DNB-4] Dunlop, Robert (1896). "Radcliffe, Thomas" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 47. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 139.

[5] Alger, John Goldworth (1895). "Parker, John (fl.1705)" . In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 43. London: Smith, Elder & Co. p. 247.

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