Francis Bernard

Who was Francis Bernard?

Francis Bernard SL was an Irish lawyer and politician.

He was the son of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon. Bernard sat as Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons. He represented Clonakilty between 1692 and 1695 and subsequently Bandonbridge between 1695 and 1727. He was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland in 1711, a post he held until 1714, and Prime Serjeant in 1724. Two years later he became a Judge on the Irish Court of Common Pleas.

In 1693, Bernard married Alice Ludlow, daughter of Stephen Ludlow. They had a daughter and several sons. His grandson James was the ancestor of the Earls of Bandon.