Walter Hussey Burgh

Walter Hussey Burgh SL (; ; 1742 – 1783) was an Irish statesman, barrister and judge who sat in the Irish House of Commons, served as Prime Serjeant (1777–79, 1782) and Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer (1782–83). He was considered to be one of the most outstanding orators of his time. Background Hussey Burgh was born in County Kildare, son of Ignatius Hussey, barrister, of Donore House, near Naas, and his second wife, Elizabeth Burgh. Elizabeth was the daughter of the statesman and architect, Colonel Thomas de Burgh, and his wife Mary Smyth. Thomas Burgh designed some of the most notable Irish buildings of his era, including Trinity College Library. Walter adopted the extra surname Burgh as a condition of inheriting the Burgh estate at Drumkeen, County Limerick, from his uncle, Richard Burgh. Another influential family connection was Anthony Foster, one of Burgh's predecessors as Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer: both of Foster's wives were members of the Burgh family. Career Hussey Burgh was educated at Mr. Young's school in Abbey Street, Dublin, and then at Trinity College Dublin, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1762; he was an accomplished classical scholar, and had some reputation as a poet. After studying at the Temple, he was called to the Bar in 1769 and, within a few years, became one of its leaders: the speed of his rise to the top was described as unprecedented. He entered the Irish House of Commons in the same year, sitting first for Athy (1769–76) and later for the University of Dublin (1776–82). He was a member of the popular drinking club, the Monks of the Screw. In Parliament, he was a close associate of Henry Grattan, and a supporter of Grattan's "free trade" programme; he became legendary for his oratory in support of the Irish Patriot Party. At the same time, he prided himself on his independence of mind, preferring not to pledge support for any particular policy until he had examined its merits. He acquired, as his patron, Philip Tisdall (the immensely influential Attorney General for Ireland) who called him "the most promising of the rising young men".