Joseph Deane PC (1674–1715) was an Irish politician and judge who became Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer. His sudden and premature death was popularly believed to be due to a chill caught when watching an eclipse of the sun.

Background

He was born in Crumlin, Dublin, son of Joseph Deane (of Deanehill,

County Meath County Meath ( ; or simply , ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in the Eastern and Midland Region of Republic of Ireland, Ireland, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. It is bordered by County Dublin to the southeast, County ...

) and his wife Elizabeth Parker, daughter of John Parker,

Archbishop of Dublin The Archbishop of Dublin () is an Episcopal polity, archiepiscopal title which takes its name from Dublin, Republic of Ireland, Ireland. Since the Reformation in Ireland, Reformation, there have been parallel apostolic successions to the title: ...

, and his wife Mary Clarke. His grandfather Major Joseph Deane was a close associate of

Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...

and a cousin of Richard Deane, the regicide. For his good services to Cromwell, the Major received large grants of land in five counties. On the Restoration of Charles II he managed to retain much of his property, including Crumlin and Terenure in Dublin. While the judge's brother Edward inherited most of the Deane estates including Terenure, Joseph inherited the Crumlin estate. He also owned a manor at Old Leighlin, County Carlow, which he later sold to the local Bishop, Bartholomew Vigors. The Bishop in turn bequeathed it to his successors in perpetuity. Francis Elrington Ball stated in 1904 that Deane was said to have built Crumlin House likely onto the rear of an earlier manor house. As of 2023, the house is incorporated into the Salesian provincial house. A drawing of the house was also made by Thomas J Westropp in 1904.

Career

Deane matriculated at

Trinity College Dublin Trinity College Dublin (), officially titled The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, and legally incorporated as Trinity College, the University of Dublin (TCD), is the sole constituent college of the Unive ...

in 1689 and entered

Gray's Inn The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister in England and Wale ...

in 1694. He was called to the Bar and sat in the Irish House of Commons from 1703 to 1714 as member for

County Dublin County Dublin ( or ) is a Counties of Ireland, county in Republic of Ireland, Ireland, and holds its capital city, Dublin. It is located on the island's east coast, within the Provinces of Ireland, province of Leinster. Until 1994, County Dubli ...

. He enjoyed the friendship of the powerful William King,

who recommended him to the English Crown as a man of great sense, knowledge of the law, honesty and good temper. Deane was made a Privy Councillor and on the accession of King George I, he became the Irish Chief Baron.

Death

Barely eight months after taking office Deane died suddenly in May 1715, just after returning from his first

assize The assizes (), or courts of assize, were periodic courts held around England and Wales until 1972, when together with the quarter sessions they were abolished by the Courts Act 1971 and replaced by a single permanent Crown Court. The assizes ex ...

. According to popular belief, as reported by his friend Archbishop King, his death was due to catching a cold while watching the solar eclipse of May 3, 1715, as the weather was exceptionally cold and wet for May. F. Elrington Ball more prosaically states that his death was probably due to

gout Gout ( ) is a form of inflammatory arthritis characterized by recurrent attacks of pain in a red, tender, hot, and Joint effusion, swollen joint, caused by the deposition of needle-like crystals of uric acid known as monosodium urate crysta ...

. He was buried in St. Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin.

Family

Deane married Margaret Boyle, daughter of Colonel Henry Boyle and Lady Mary O'Brien, and sister of Henry Boyle, 1st Earl of Shannon. Their only son died young, and the judge's estates passed to his five daughters, all of whom married into the aristocracy.''Debrett's Complete Peerage'' They were: *Elizabeth, who married Hayes St. Leger, 4th Viscount Doneraile *Anne, who married Arthur Hill-Trevor, 1st Viscount Dungannon, but died young, without issue *Mary, who married John Bourke, 1st Earl of Mayo *Catherine, who married John Lysaght, 1st Baron Lisle *Margaret, who married John FitzGerald, 15th Knight of Kerry

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Deane, Joseph Politicians from County Dublin 1674 births 1715 deaths 17th-century Irish people Members of the Privy Council of Ireland Irish MPs 1703–1713 Irish MPs 1713–1714 Members of Gray's Inn Alumni of Trinity College Dublin Chief Barons of the Irish Exchequer Members of the Parliament of Ireland (pre-1801) for County Dublin constituencies People from Crumlin, Dublin