Life
1745-1831 [John Toler; Ist Earl of Norbury]; b. Co. Tipperary; ed. TCD,
MA 1766; bar 1770; MP Tralee, 1776; leading opponent of Catholic Emancipation;
Soc.-Gen., 1789; Att.-Gen. 1798; established reputation as hanging judge
in 1978 Rising and aftermath; voted for Union, becoming Chief Justice
of the Court of Common Pleas; also Baronet, 1800; considered unfit to
sit on bench by peers, including Sir Jonah Barrington; object of petitions
for removal in Westminister sponsored by Daniel O’Connell and others;
retained post to 1827, his removal precipitated by senility; created earl,
1827; features in narrative by Barrington such as Curran’s witticism
about the beef under his care being ‘well hung’; d. 27 July.
DNB DIH DIB.
Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)