Joseph Deane

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) and his wife Elizabeth Parker, daughter of John Parker, Archbishop of Dublin, and his wife Mary Clarke. His grandfather Major Joseph Deane was a close associate of Oliver Cromwell 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 in 1689 and entered Gray's Inn in 1694.