Sir Thomas Berry Cusack-SmithPC(1795 – 13 August 1866)[1]was an Irish politician and judge. He was nicknamed "TBC Smith" or "Alphabet Smith".
Family and education
editHe was the younger son ofSir William Cusack-Smith, 2nd Baronet,Baron of the Exchequerand his wife Hester Berry, daughter of Major Thomas Berry (Irish Volunteers) of Eglish Castle, sole signatory of the Birr Declaration in 1782. He was grandson of SirMichael Smith,1st Baronet,Master of the Rolls in Irelandfrom 1801 to 1806 and his first wife Maryanne Cusack. He was educated atTrinity College Dublin.He enteredLincoln's Innin 1817 and was called to the Irish Bar in 1819.[2]He married Louisa Smith-Barry, daughter of James Hugh Smith-Barry, of the well-known Smith-Barry family who ownedFota Island,Cork. They had one son, William and five daughters, Hester, Marianne, Anne, Caroline and Frances.[2]
Career
editHe was appointedSolicitor-General for Irelandbriefly in 1842, and thenAttorney-General for Irelandfrom 1842 until 1846, in which role he prosecutedDaniel O'Connell.[2]His conduct of the trial attracted severe criticism, and theHouse of Lordslater quashed the guilty verdict due to gross irregularities in the proceedings.[3]He was aMember of ParliamentforRiponfrom 1843 to 1846.[4]He becameMaster of the Rolls in Irelandin 1846, holding that office until his death, which occurred atBlairgowrie and RattrayinScotland.[2]
Character and appearance
editLike his father he had a reputation for eccentricity and bad temper: during the trial of Daniel O'Connell he challenged one of the opposing counsel,Gerald Fitzgibbon,to aduel,for having allegedly accused him of acting from "private and dishonourable motives". The judges, gravely embarrassed, strongly criticised Cusack-Smith for his actions and persuaded him to drop the matter. To the public, a particularly startling aspect of the matter was that Fitzgibbon's wife and daughter were present in Court throughout.[3]Cussck-Smith's frequent outbursts of ill-temper were attributed by his friends to chronicindigestion.
An admirer described him as having "a touch of genius" but admitted that he was rough and harsh in manner.Charles Gavan Duffydescribed him as "dignified" but so unhealthy and ghastly in appearance that he resembled "anowlin daylight ".[3]Daniel O'Connell called him "thevinegarcruet ".
References
edit- ^Leigh Rayment's Historical List of MPs – Constituencies beginning with "R" (part 1)
- ^abcdBall, F. ElringtonThe Judges in Ireland 1221-1921John Murray London 1926 Vol. 2 p.356-7
- ^abcGeoghegan, Patrick M.Liberator- the life and death of Daniel O'ConnellGill and Macmillan Dublin 2010 pp.166-182
- ^Craig, F. W. S.(1989) [1977].British parliamentary election results 1832–1885(2nd ed.). Chichester: Parliamentary Research Services. p. 255.ISBN0-900178-26-4.
Sources
edit- Concise Dictionary of National Biography