The Honorable James Browne (1736/8 – 22 October 1790) was an Irish Member of Parliament and Law Officer. He sat in the House of Commons of Ireland from 1768 to 1790.[1]

He was born in County Mayo, fourth son of John Browne, 1st Earl of Altamont and Anne Gore, daughter of Sir Arthur Gore, 2nd Baronet and Elizabeth Annesley.[2]

He entered Middle Temple in 1755 and was called to the Bar in 1760.[3] He was advanced to the rank of Prime Serjeant-at-law (Ireland) in 1780.[3] He was dismissed following the change of Government in 1782, but was reappointed in 1784 when a promotion to the Bench left the office open. He was dismissed a second time in 1787.[3]He died unmarried in 1790.[4]

Hart suggests that he was a failure as Prime Serjeant, but adds that the office itself was by the 1780s an anachronism.[5] Although in theory, the Prime Serjeant was still the Government's most senior legal advisor, in practice the Attorney General of Ireland had for over a century had precedence over the Serjeants. The office of Prime Serjeant was abolished in 1805 following the death of Arthur Browne.[6]

He was an MP for Jamestown from 1768 to 1776, for Tuam from 1776 to 1783, and for Castlebar from 1783 to 1790.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Biographies of Members of the Irish Parliament 1692–1800: Browne, James". Ulster Historical Foundation. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  2. ^ Burke's Peerage 107th Edition Delaware 2003 Vol.3 p. 3649
  3. ^ a b c Hart, A. R. A History of the King's Serjeants-at-law in Ireland Dublin Four Courts Press 2000 p.165
  4. ^ Burke's Peerage
  5. ^ Hart p.101
  6. ^ Hart p.106
Parliament of Ireland Preceded byEdward LoftusRoger Palmer Member of Parliament for Jamestown 1768–1776 With: John FitzGibbon Succeeded byViscount WestportRichard Martin Preceded byHugh CarletonWilliam Hull Member of Parliament for Tuam 1776–1783 With: Sir Henry Lynch-Blosse, 7th Bt Succeeded byJames CuffeDavid La Touche Preceded byStephen PophamThomas Coghlan Member of Parliament for Castlebar 1783–1790 With: Thomas Warren Succeeded byJohn Francis CradockEdward FitzGerald
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