Richard Lalor Sheil (17 August 1791 – 23 May 1851), Irish politician, writer and orator, was born at Drumdowney, Slieverue, County Kilkenny, Ireland. The family was temporarily domiciled at Drumdowney while their new mansion at Bellevue, near Waterford, was under construction.
His father was Edward Sheil, who had acquired considerable wealth in Cadiz in southern Spain and owned an estate in Tipperary. His mother was Catherine McCarthy of Springhouse, near Bansha, County Tipperary, a member of the old aristocratic family of MacCarthy Reagh of Springhouse, who in their time were Princes of Carbery and Counts of Toulouse in France. The son was taught French and Latin by the Abbé de Grimeau, a French refugee. He was then sent to a Catholic school in Kensington, London, presided over by a French nobleman, M. de Broglie.[1] For a time he attended the lay college in St Patrick's College, Maynooth.[2] In October 1804, he was removed to Stonyhurst College, Lancashire, and in November 1807 entered Trinity College, Dublin, where he specially distinguished himself in the debates of the Historical Society.
After taking his degree in 1811 he was admitted a student of Lincoln's Inn, and was called to the Irish bar in 1814. Sheil was one of the founders of the Catholic Association in 1823 and drew up the petition for inquiry into the mode of administering the laws in Ireland, which was presented in that year to both Houses of Parliament.[3]
In 1825, Sheil accompanied Daniel O'Connell to London to protest against the suppression of the Catholic Association. The protest was unsuccessful, but, although nominally dissolved, the association continued its propaganda after the defeat of the Catholic Relief Bill in 1825. Sheil was one of O'Connell's leading supporters in the agitation persistently carried on until Catholic emancipation was granted in 1829.[3]
In the same year he was returned to Parliament for Milborne Port, and in 1831 for Louth, holding that seat until 1832. He took a prominent part in all the debates relating to Ireland, and although he was greater as a platform orator than as a debater, he gradually won the somewhat reluctant admiration of the House. In August 1839, he became Vice-President of the Board of Trade in Lord Melbourne's ministry.[3]
After the accession of Lord John Russell to power in 1846, he was appointed Master of the Mint, and in 1850 he was appointed minister at the court of Tuscany. He died in Florence on 23 May 1851. His remains were conveyed back to Ireland by a British ship-of-war, and interred at Long Orchard, near Templetuohy, County Tipperary.
Sheil was very small, and of mean presence; with a singularly fidgety manner, a shrill voice, and a delivery unintelligibly rapid. But in sheer beauty of elaborated diction not O'Connell nor any one else could surpass him.[4]
Works
Shiel's play, Adelaide, or the Emigrants, was performed at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin, on 19 February 1814, with success, and, on 23 May 1816, it was performed at Covent Garden in London. The Apostate, produced at the latter theatre on 3 May 1817, established his reputation as a dramatist. His other principal plays are Bellamira (written in 1818), Evadne (1819), Damon and Pythias (1821), Huguenot (produced in 1822) and Montini (1820).
In 1822, Sheil began, with William Henry Curran, to contribute to the New Monthly Magazine a series of papers entitled "Sketches of the Irish Bar". Curran in fact did most of the writing.[5] These pieces were edited by Marmion Wilme Savage in 1855 in two volumes, under the title of Sketches Legal and Political. Sheil's Speeches were edited in 1845 by Thomas MacNevin.
Family
In 1816, Shiel married a Miss O'Halloran, niece of Sir William MacMahon, Master of the Rolls in Ireland. They had one son, who predeceased Sheil. His wife died in January 1822.[3] In July 1830, he married Anastasia Lalor Power, a widow. He then added the middle name Lalor.[3]
His younger brother was the army officer and diplomat Justin Sheil.
Wikisource has original works by or about: Richard Lalor Sheil
^Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Richard Lalor Sheil" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^Eoin O'Brien Conscience and Conflict: Biography of Sir Dominic Corrigan, 1802–80, Glendale Press Dublin 1983
^ abcde"Sheil, Richard Lalor (1791-1851)", The History of Parliament
^G. W. E. Russell, Collections & Recollections (Revised edition, Smith Elder & Co, London, 1899), at page 133.
^Jenkins, Brian. "Sheil, Richard Lalor". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/25301. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sheil, Richard Lalor". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 825.
External links
Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Richard Lalor Shiel
"A Greenwich Pensioner!" 1838 caricature of Richard Lalor Shiel MP
richard, lalor, sheil, august, 1791, 1851, irish, politician, writer, orator, born, drumdowney, slieverue, county, kilkenny, ireland, family, temporarily, domiciled, drumdowney, while, their, mansion, bellevue, near, waterford, under, construction, contents, l. Richard Lalor Sheil 17 August 1791 23 May 1851 Irish politician writer and orator was born at Drumdowney Slieverue County Kilkenny Ireland The family was temporarily domiciled at Drumdowney while their new mansion at Bellevue near Waterford was under construction Richard Lalor Sheil Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Family 4 Further reading 5 References 6 External linksLife EditHis father was Edward Sheil who had acquired considerable wealth in Cadiz in southern Spain and owned an estate in Tipperary His mother was Catherine McCarthy of Springhouse near Bansha County Tipperary a member of the old aristocratic family of MacCarthy Reagh of Springhouse who in their time were Princes of Carbery and Counts of Toulouse in France The son was taught French and Latin by the Abbe de Grimeau a French refugee He was then sent to a Catholic school in Kensington London presided over by a French nobleman M de Broglie 1 For a time he attended the lay college in St Patrick s College Maynooth 2 In October 1804 he was removed to Stonyhurst College Lancashire and in November 1807 entered Trinity College Dublin where he specially distinguished himself in the debates of the Historical Society After taking his degree in 1811 he was admitted a student of Lincoln s Inn and was called to the Irish bar in 1814 Sheil was one of the founders of the Catholic Association in 1823 and drew up the petition for inquiry into the mode of administering the laws in Ireland which was presented in that year to both Houses of Parliament 3 In 1825 Sheil accompanied Daniel O Connell to London to protest against the suppression of the Catholic Association The protest was unsuccessful but although nominally dissolved the association continued its propaganda after the defeat of the Catholic Relief Bill in 1825 Sheil was one of O Connell s leading supporters in the agitation persistently carried on until Catholic emancipation was granted in 1829 3 In the same year he was returned to Parliament for Milborne Port and in 1831 for Louth holding that seat until 1832 He took a prominent part in all the debates relating to Ireland and although he was greater as a platform orator than as a debater he gradually won the somewhat reluctant admiration of the House In August 1839 he became Vice President of the Board of Trade in Lord Melbourne s ministry 3 After the accession of Lord John Russell to power in 1846 he was appointed Master of the Mint and in 1850 he was appointed minister at the court of Tuscany He died in Florence on 23 May 1851 His remains were conveyed back to Ireland by a British ship of war and interred at Long Orchard near Templetuohy County Tipperary George W E Russell said of him Sheil was very small and of mean presence with a singularly fidgety manner a shrill voice and a delivery unintelligibly rapid But in sheer beauty of elaborated diction not O Connell nor any one else could surpass him 4 Works EditShiel s play Adelaide or the Emigrants was performed at the Crow Street Theatre in Dublin on 19 February 1814 with success and on 23 May 1816 it was performed at Covent Garden in London The Apostate produced at the latter theatre on 3 May 1817 established his reputation as a dramatist His other principal plays are Bellamira written in 1818 Evadne 1819 Damon and Pythias 1821 Huguenot produced in 1822 and Montini 1820 In 1822 Sheil began with William Henry Curran to contribute to the New Monthly Magazine a series of papers entitled Sketches of the Irish Bar Curran in fact did most of the writing 5 These pieces were edited by Marmion Wilme Savage in 1855 in two volumes under the title of Sketches Legal and Political Sheil s Speeches were edited in 1845 by Thomas MacNevin Family EditIn 1816 Shiel married a Miss O Halloran niece of Sir William MacMahon Master of the Rolls in Ireland They had one son who predeceased Sheil His wife died in January 1822 3 In July 1830 he married Anastasia Lalor Power a widow He then added the middle name Lalor 3 His younger brother was the army officer and diplomat Justin Sheil Further reading EditWilliam McCullagh Torrens Memoirs of the Right Honourable Richard Lalor Sheil 2 vols 1855 References Edit Wikisource has original works by or about Richard Lalor Sheil Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Richard Lalor Sheil Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company Eoin O Brien Conscience and Conflict Biography of Sir Dominic Corrigan 1802 80 Glendale Press Dublin 1983 a b c d e Sheil Richard Lalor 1791 1851 The History of Parliament G W E Russell Collections amp Recollections Revised edition Smith Elder amp Co London 1899 at page 133 Jenkins Brian Sheil Richard Lalor Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 25301 Subscription or UK public library membership required This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Sheil Richard Lalor Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 24 11th ed Cambridge University Press p 825 External links EditHansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by Richard Lalor Shiel A Greenwich Pensioner 1838 caricature of Richard Lalor Shiel MPParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byGeorge Stevens ByngWilliam Sturges Bourne Member of Parliament for Milborne Port1831 With William Sturges Bourne 1831George Stevens Byng 1831 Succeeded byGeorge Stevens ByngPhilip Cecil CramptonPreceded byAlexander DawsonJohn McClintock Member of Parliament for County Louth1831 1832 With Alexander Dawson 1831Sir Patrick Bellew Bt 1831 1832 Succeeded byThomas FitzGeraldRichard BellewPreceded byThomas WyseRobert Otway Cave Member of Parliament for Tipperary1832 1841 With Cornelius O Callaghan 1832 1835Robert Otway Cave 1835 1841 Succeeded byRobert Otway CaveValentine MaherPreceded byCornelius O Callaghan Member of Parliament for Dungarvan1841 1851 Succeeded byCharles PonsonbyPolitical officesPreceded byHenry Labouchere Vice President of the Board of Trade1839 1841 Succeeded byFox MaulePreceded bySir George Clerk Bt Master of the Mint1846 1850 Succeeded bySir John Herschel BtDiplomatic postsPreceded bySir George Hamilton British Minister to Tuscany1850 1851 Succeeded byJames Hudson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Richard Lalor Sheil amp oldid 1145921854, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
