Person:Richard Reynell (1)

Sir Richard Reynell, 1st Baronet was an English-born judge who had a distinguished career in Ireland, becoming Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland.

He was born in Devonshire, second son of Sir Richard Reynell of East Ogwell and his wife and cousin Mary Reynell. The Reynells were an ancient family who claimed descent from Sir Richard Reynell who lived in the time of Richard I.

Richard entered Middle Temple in 1642 and was called to the Bar in 1653. He decided to pursue a career in Ireland and was admitted to the King's Inn in 1658. He built up a large practice and was noted for his willingness to take Catholic clients, which was to cause him trouble later. He was elected to the Irish House of Commons as member for Athboy in 1661. He acted as a judge of assize and was made Second Sergeant and knighted in 1673. He enjoyed the particular friendship of Arthur Capel, 1st Earl of Essex, the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland.

On Essex's recommendation Reynell was made a judge of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) in 1674. Essex praised him as one of the two best judges in Ireland. On the return of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde to power in 1677, Essex recommended Reynell to him as one of the few Irish judges of learning who was neither old nor ill. Ormonde agreed and as John Bysse, the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer was failing, he proposed Reynell to replace him. However the anti-Catholic hysteria engendered by the Popish Plot was at its height and Reynell's tolerant attitude to Catholics told against him; nor, despite his aristocratic background did he have much influence at Whitehall. When Bysse died Charles II chose Henry Hene to replace him. Reynell was however made a baronet, a fairly unusual honour then for an Irish judge, in 1678, and a member of the Privy Council in 1682.

Despite his alleged Catholic sympathies he was unacceptable to the regime of James II and was dismissed the Bench in 1686, some said because his wealth and independence of mind earned him the enmity of Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell. He returned to England and was elected to Parliament as member for Ashburton in 1690. He was active on several committees, especially on Irish affairs. In 1691 he received his long overdue promotion as Lord Chief Justice of Ireland. While his legal ability was not in dispute he had made enemies: in politics he was a Tory and in 1693 was openly accused of being a Jacobite; there was also the old accusation that he was excessively tolerant of Catholics, and even wild accusations of conspiracy to kill William III. Reynell spoke in the House of Commons in his own defence with great eloquence, and friends like Edward Seymour defended his integrity with great vigour, and laughed at the idea that Reynell would plot to kill the King to whom he owed his office. Reynell was completely vindicated (although it is said that he never attended the Commons again).

More substantial were claims of failing health: by 1695 he was rumoured to be on the point of death and " past minding any business He was dismissed the Bench the same year. He died in London in 1699. He was given something close to a State funeral: an impressive procession passed through London, and brought his body back to Devonshire.

Reynell married Hester Beckett in a ceremony at the King's Inn in 1660. They had two sons of whom Richard the elder succeeded as second baronet . While they were travelling in France in 1682 Hester died at Abbeville; Reynell brought her body home to Devon for burial.

Reynell's success owed something to his background: unlike most Irish judges he could deal with men like Essex and Ormonde as a social equal. On the other hand his legal ability was acknowledged even by his critics, though there appears to have been a falling off in his mental powers in his later years. Ball calls him one of the most remarkable Irish judges of the era.