John Atkinson, Baron Atkinson, PC (13 December 1844 – 13 March 1932) was an Irish politician and judge. He was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1905 to 1928.
He was educated at the Belfast Academy and later at Queen's College Galway, which he attended from 1858 to 1865. He won Junior Scholarships in the Science Division of the Faculty of Arts, 1858–9, 1859–60 and 1860–1. He was awarded the B.A. degree in mathematics with first-class honours in 1861, and pursued a varied postgraduate career – from initial study of the sciences (with Senior Scholarships in Mathematics, 1861–2, and Natural Philosophy, 1862–3) he moved into Law, gaining a first-class Diploma in Elementary Law in 1864. A further Senior Scholarship, this time in Law, followed, and he graduated with a first-class LL.B. in 1865. Throughout his university career, he was noted as an orator of distinction, and served as Auditor of the college's Literary and Debating Society for the 1862–63 session.
Atkinson was called to the Irish Bar in 1865 and appointed a Queen's Counsel in 1880 at the early age of 35. He practised as a QC on the Munster Circuit. He was elected a Bencher of the King's Inns in June 1885. In 1890, he was called to the English Bar by the Inner Temple, and was elected a Bencher there in 1906. Atkinson represented the Times Newspaper before the Parnell Commission in 1888.
Political lifeEdit
Atkinson was politically active throughout his career at the Bar, and in 1889 was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland. He became Attorney-General for Ireland in 1892,[1] and later that year was appointed a Privy Councillor. In January 1893, having left the office of Attorney-General, he called a motion at a Unionist meeting in County Fermanagh declaring renewed opposition to Home Rule. At a meeting in March of that year (1893) at Leinster Hall Atkinson declared that a breach in the Union between the United Kingdom and Ireland would mean an end to civil and religious liberty. In December 1893 he was selected to represent the Unionist Party in North Londonderry. His candidature was endorsed by Arthur Balfour, then leader of the House of Commons, with the words –"it is important that the loyalists of Ulster be represented by eloquent and able men". Atkinson was elected a Conservative M.P. for North Londonderry in 1895; upon his election, he was again appointed Attorney-General, an office he held for the next ten years. During this time, he was closely involved in the framing of many significant pieces of legislation, including the Irish Land Act, 1896, and the Local Government Act, 1898.
Appointed as a law lordEdit
On 19 December 1905, he was appointed to the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and life peer under the title Baron Atkinson, of Glenwilliam in the County of Limerick,[2] the first Irish barrister to be appointed as a Law Lord directly from his practice at the bar – Judges John Fitzgerald and Michael Morris had served on the Irish Bench for many years before their respective appointments. For the title of his life peerage, he chose Glenwilliam, after Glenwilliam Castle in County Limerick, the home of his father. Atkinson's appointment, however, was not met with universal approval by his profession. As a former member of the cabinet he was seen as a political judge, however his industry and keen sense of justice came to be seen as a valuable addition to the bench. On his appointment as a Law Lord, he withdrew from active politics, limiting his contributions on political matters in the House of Lords to the discussion of Irish matters, such as the Irish Land Bill in 1909, to which he tabled several amendments. Atkinson retired as a judge in 1928, and died at his home at 39 Hyde Park Gate, London on 13 March 1932. A portrait by John St Helier Lander hangs in the Bar Room of King's Inns, Dublin.
On a wreath of the colours a falcon rising Proper belled and jessed Or holding in its beak a fleur-de-lys per pale Gules and Argent.
Escutcheon
Per pale Gules and Argent an eagle displayed with two heads counterchanged on a chief engrailed Ermine a rose Proper between two martlets Or.
Supporters
Dexter a figure of Justice Proper vested Argent semee of fleurs-de-lys Gules sinister an eagle Proper gorged with a collar flory counterflory and pendent therefrom a portcullis Or.
Motto
Virtute Et Valore
ReferencesEdit
^"The General Election." Times, London, England, 27 June 1892: 8. The Times Digital Archive. Web. 17 February 2017.
john, atkinson, baron, atkinson, december, 1844, march, 1932, irish, politician, judge, lord, appeal, ordinary, from, 1905, 1928, right, honourablethe, lord, atkinsonpcthe, lord, atkinsonlord, appeal, ordinaryin, office, december, 1905, february, 1928succeeded. John Atkinson Baron Atkinson PC 13 December 1844 13 March 1932 was an Irish politician and judge He was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1905 to 1928 The Right HonourableThe Lord AtkinsonPCThe Lord AtkinsonLord of Appeal in OrdinaryIn office 20 December 1905 5 February 1928Succeeded byThe Lord AtkinAttorney General for IrelandSolicitor General for Ireland This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations April 2008 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 Early life and career 2 Political life 3 Appointed as a law lord 4 Arms 5 References 6 Sources 7 External linksEarly life and career EditAtkinson was born at Drogheda County Louth the eldest son of Edward Atkinson a physician of Glenwilliam Castle County Limerick and Skea House Enniskillen County Fermanagh and his wife Rosetta He was educated at the Belfast Academy and later at Queen s College Galway which he attended from 1858 to 1865 He won Junior Scholarships in the Science Division of the Faculty of Arts 1858 9 1859 60 and 1860 1 He was awarded the B A degree in mathematics with first class honours in 1861 and pursued a varied postgraduate career from initial study of the sciences with Senior Scholarships in Mathematics 1861 2 and Natural Philosophy 1862 3 he moved into Law gaining a first class Diploma in Elementary Law in 1864 A further Senior Scholarship this time in Law followed and he graduated with a first class LL B in 1865 Throughout his university career he was noted as an orator of distinction and served as Auditor of the college s Literary and Debating Society for the 1862 63 session Atkinson was called to the Irish Bar in 1865 and appointed a Queen s Counsel in 1880 at the early age of 35 He practised as a QC on the Munster Circuit He was elected a Bencher of the King s Inns in June 1885 In 1890 he was called to the English Bar by the Inner Temple and was elected a Bencher there in 1906 Atkinson represented the Times Newspaper before the Parnell Commission in 1888 Political life EditAtkinson was politically active throughout his career at the Bar and in 1889 was appointed Solicitor General for Ireland He became Attorney General for Ireland in 1892 1 and later that year was appointed a Privy Councillor In January 1893 having left the office of Attorney General he called a motion at a Unionist meeting in County Fermanagh declaring renewed opposition to Home Rule At a meeting in March of that year 1893 at Leinster Hall Atkinson declared that a breach in the Union between the United Kingdom and Ireland would mean an end to civil and religious liberty In December 1893 he was selected to represent the Unionist Party in North Londonderry His candidature was endorsed by Arthur Balfour then leader of the House of Commons with the words it is important that the loyalists of Ulster be represented by eloquent and able men Atkinson was elected a Conservative M P for North Londonderry in 1895 upon his election he was again appointed Attorney General an office he held for the next ten years During this time he was closely involved in the framing of many significant pieces of legislation including the Irish Land Act 1896 and the Local Government Act 1898 Appointed as a law lord EditOn 19 December 1905 he was appointed to the House of Lords as a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary and life peer under the title Baron Atkinson of Glenwilliam in the County of Limerick 2 the first Irish barrister to be appointed as a Law Lord directly from his practice at the bar Judges John Fitzgerald and Michael Morris had served on the Irish Bench for many years before their respective appointments For the title of his life peerage he chose Glenwilliam after Glenwilliam Castle in County Limerick the home of his father Atkinson s appointment however was not met with universal approval by his profession As a former member of the cabinet he was seen as a political judge however his industry and keen sense of justice came to be seen as a valuable addition to the bench On his appointment as a Law Lord he withdrew from active politics limiting his contributions on political matters in the House of Lords to the discussion of Irish matters such as the Irish Land Bill in 1909 to which he tabled several amendments Atkinson retired as a judge in 1928 and died at his home at 39 Hyde Park Gate London on 13 March 1932 A portrait by John St Helier Lander hangs in the Bar Room of King s Inns Dublin Arms EditCoat of arms of John Atkinson Baron Atkinson nbsp nbsp Notes Granted by Sir Arthur Vicars Ulster King of Arms 5 December 1905 arms and crest and 19 February 1906 3 Crest On a wreath of the colours a falcon rising Proper belled and jessed Or holding in its beak a fleur de lys per pale Gules and Argent Escutcheon Per pale Gules and Argent an eagle displayed with two heads counterchanged on a chief engrailed Ermine a rose Proper between two martlets Or Supporters Dexter a figure of Justice Proper vested Argent semee of fleurs de lys Gules sinister an eagle Proper gorged with a collar flory counterflory and pendent therefrom a portcullis Or Motto Virtute Et ValoreReferences Edit The General Election Times London England 27 June 1892 8 The Times Digital Archive Web 17 February 2017 No 27866 The London Gazette 22 December 1905 p 9173 Grants and Confirmations of Arms Vol J National Library of Ireland p 358 and 364 Retrieved 31 December 2022 Sources EditT C Tobias Atkinson John Baron Atkinson 1844 1932 rev Sinead Agnew Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Oxford University Press 2004 Obituary The Times 14 March 1932 see also reply by Arthur Balfor on 15 March 1932 Hesilrige Arthur G M 1921 Debrett s Peerage and Titles of courtesy London London Dean amp son limited p 77 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by John AtkinsonParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byHenry Lyle Mulholland Member of Parliament for North Londonderry1895 1906 Succeeded byHugh Thom BarrieLegal officesPreceded byDodgson Hamilton Madden Solicitor General for Ireland1890 1892 Succeeded byEdward CarsonPreceded byDodgson Hamilton Madden Attorney General for Ireland1892 Succeeded byThe MacdermotPreceded byThe Macdermot Attorney General for Ireland1895 1905 Succeeded byJames Campbell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Atkinson Baron Atkinson amp oldid 1166190626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
