Life
1739-1798 [1st Earl of Clonmell; var. Clonmel]; ed. TCD and Middle Temple;
Irish bar, 1765; MP Mullingar, 1769; KC, 1770; Solicitor-Gen., 1774; Att.-Gen.
and privy Councillor, 1777; supported legislative independence, resulting
in his dismissal from Attorney-Generalship, 1782; Chief Justice, 1784;
later ruined judicial reputation by issued fiat for £4,000 [DIB var. £7,800]
against John Magee in the case arising from Magee’s attacks on Francis
Higgins for his part in the release of Lord Carhampton’s pimp Mrs.
Llewellan, 1789; resulting in a popular embargo on his court; Viscount
Clonmell, 1789; Earl, 1793; Reputation, printed privately, revealed
him as unscrupulous, passionate, and greedy; d. 23 May (being the first
day of the Rebellion). DNB DIB
Criticism
J.
M. Synge, ‘Good Pictures in Dublin’ (Manchester Guardian,
24 Jan. 1908.)
]
Notes
M.
J. Craig, Dublin 1660-1860 (1980), p.227f., quotes from Scott’s
diary, with the remark, ‘Parts of the diary are extremely funny,
but too long to quote here; and other reasons forbid.’
Scott
is a prominent figure in Barrington’s Memoirs, and the butt
of many Curran jokes.
Scott is subject of a play by John (Purcell) O’Donovan, Copperfaced Jack (1963).
Dismissed from Attorney-Generalship in 1784 for refusing the acknowledge the right of England to legislate for Ireland. (See Ward and Ward, eds., Letters of Charles O’Conor, 1988, p.423, n.2.)
Scott's former home at 17 Harcourt St. was the site of the first showing of the paintings contributed to the Municipal Gallery by Sir Hugh Lane, and were reviewed there by J. M. Synge in ‘Good Pictures in Dublin’ (Manchester Guardian, 24 Jan. 1908.)
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Princess Grace Irish Library (Monaco)