Category: 18th Century

The  Papacy had stopped recognising the Jacobite cause on the death of the “Young Pretender” in 1766. The authorities feared that the American rebellion of 1775 might inspire a rebellion by Catholics in the Kingdom of Ireland. By this Act, an oath was imposed, which besides a declaration of loyalty to the reigning sovereign, contained […]

The Catholic Relief Act (33 George III, c.21 enabled Catholics to hold civil and military offices that were not specifically excepted, and removed the statuary bar to university degrees. In 1792 a bill was introduced with government support, removing all disabilities attaching to marriages between Roman Catholics and Protestants, admitting Catholics to the practice of […]

Land Ownership By the early 18th century landholding was generally consolidated in about 2000 estates of between 2,000 and 4,000 acres.  Many comprised parcels of land in different counties.  Others were consolidated.  Some were administered by resident landlords.  Larger estates were usually administered through agents.  Absenteeism was endemic. Perpetual leases granted to absentees represented a […]

Subordination The Irish legislature was subordinate to the British Parliament.  The British Parliament claimed the right to legislate for Ireland.  In practice, the British Parliament did not impose direct taxation or legislation in relation to contentious matter. Under Ponying’s Law, the Irish Parliament could not meet until the Lord Lieutenant or justices and the Irish […]

Revenue At the end of the 18th century most revenue was raised from customs and excise.  Excise duties covered a wide range of goods and materials including hearths, windows, mould, paper, leather , coaches, and even male servants. There were licence duties and tax on a wide variety of matters and things such as hearts, […]

Poor Law The English Poor Law system was not extended to Ireland.  No Poor Law system developed until  1838.  The established church established a number of alms-houses seeking to sought t to limit the places where beggars could beg. An Act of 1703 provided for the erection of a workhouse in Dublin city for employing […]

English Legislation & Irish Industry In the original English Navigation Act 1660, the Irish vessels had the privileges of English ones.  This legislation was amended in 1663 and Ireland was deprived of colonial trade.  European articles could not be imported into the English colonies, except from England in ships built in England and manned by […]

The Courts The major courts in the 18th century were the Chancery, Kings Bench, Common Pleas, Exchequer and Prerogative Court.  There was an appeal from the Prerogative Court to the Court of Delegates in Chancery. There was a County Palatine court in Tipperary in the Ormond Palatine.  This ceased when the Duke was attainted. There […]

Lord Lieutenant In the 18th century, Ireland was a kingdom with its own parliament, courts and government.  The King of Great Britain was also King of Ireland.  The country was ruled by a chief governor appointed by the crown. The chief governor was an appointed British nobleman titled the Lord Lieutenant. The Lord Lieutenant was […]

General Local authorities conducted a great deal of the limited public administration that existed in the 18th century.Local government was notionally the same in Ireland and England. The 32 counties of modern Ireland had been created by the early 17th century.  Each county was divided into Baronies and civil/Church of Ireland parishes. Some of the […]

End of Crown Government Queen Mary died in 1694 and King William III, who reigned until 1702, had external commitments. Queen Anne, sister of Queen Mary and daughter of King James II who succeeds him was in poor health, dying without an heir in1714. Ultimately George I, II, III and IV of the House of […]