Sir Richard Reade (1511–1576) was an English-born judge in sixteenth-century Ireland, who held the office of

Lord Chancellor of Ireland The Lord High Chancellor of Ireland (commonly known as Lord Chancellor of Ireland) was the highest judicial office in Ireland until the establishment of the Irish Free State in 1922. From 1721 to 1801, it was also the highest political office of ...

Background and early career

He was born at Nether Wallop in Hampshire, second son of Richard Reade (died 1555), Lord of the Manor of Wallop, and his wife Margaret. He was educated at Winchester College and

New College, Oxford New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Founded in 1379 by William of Wykeham in conjunction with Winchester College as its feeder school, New College is one of the oldest colleges at th ...

, where he became a fellow in 1528. He took the degrees of Bachelor of Civil Law at Oxford in 1537 and Doctor of Civil Law at the same university in 1540.Gregg, p. 253 He quickly acquired a reputation as "a man of learning and experience". He was made a Master of Chancery and undertook a crucial trade mission to Flanders.Ball, F. Elrington. ''The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921''. London: John Murray, 1926 He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in 1544.

Lord Chancellor of Ireland and later life

In 1546 Sir John Alan, the

, was removed from office on a charge of

corruption Corruption is a form of dishonesty or a criminal offense which is undertaken by a person or an organization which is entrusted in a position of authority, in order to acquire illicit benefits or abuse power for one's personal gain. Corruption m ...

, and Reade was sent to Ireland to replace him. He was granted a house in the precincts of St. Patrick's Cathedral, and the manor of Moyglare near Maynooth,

County Kildare County Kildare ( ga, Contae Chill Dara) is a county in Ireland. It is in the province of Leinster and is part of the Eastern and Midland Region. It is named after the town of Kildare. Kildare County Council is the local authority for the county, ...

. In 1548 Alan was reinstated as chancellor. Reade returned to England, where he became

Master of Requests Master of Requests, from the Latin Requestarum Magister, is an office that developed in several European systems of law and government in the late Middle Ages and the early modern period. Holders of the title had the responsibility of presenting pe ...

. He later purchased the manors of Redbourn near St. Albans and

Tangley Tangley is a village in the English county of Hampshire. Tangley is situated north of the old market town of Andover and the village of Charlton, Hampshire. Tangley Parish covers an area of and has just under 600 residents in three villages, Ta ...

near Andover.

Death and family

He died on 11 July 1576 and was buried at

St Mary's Church, Redbourn St Mary's Church is an active Grade I listed parish church in the Church of England in Redbourn, Hertfordshire, England. The building is Grade I listed. History The church dates from the 12th century, the oldest parts being the nave and west t ...

. He left legacies to Winchester College and for the upkeep of the parish of Redbourn. The manor of Redbourn itself was inherited by his eldest son Innocent, who also inherited the older family estate at Nether Wallop. His second son John died at the age of nineteen, while his third son Andrew became a substantial landowner in Hampshire, acquiring the manors of Linkenholt and Faccombe. Richard's wife was Anne Tregonwell, daughter of the prominent jurist Sir John Tregonwell of Milton Abbas, Dorset, and his first wife Elizabeth Newce. In addition to the above-mentioned sons, they had a daughter, Anne, who married a Mr. Wilgosse.

Character

Ball praises Reade as a man of great learning, though O'FlanaganO'Flanagan, J. Roderick. ''Lives of the Lord Chancellors and Keepers of the Great Seal of Ireland''. London, 1870 adds that little judicial business was transacted in the Lord Chancellor's Court during his tenure of that office.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Reade, Richard 1575 deaths 1511 births Lord chancellors of Ireland People from Test Valley Alumni of New College, Oxford People educated at Winchester College Burials in Hertfordshire People from Redbourn