Francis Stoughton Sullivan

Who was Francis Stoughton Sullivan?

Francis Stoughton Sullivan was an Irish lawyer and Professor of Oratory.

Sullivan was born in Galway, a member of the Kerry O'Sullivan More family, and educated at Trinity College Dublin, graduating with an LL.D. in 1745. He was called to the Bar the following year. In 1750 he was appointed Professor of Laws in Trinity, in 1759 Professor of Oratory, and three years later the first Professor of Feudal and English Law. He is especially noted for excellence in the latter. He also had a great interest in Irish history and Irish manuscripts all his life, and employed native scribes in preparing editions of 'Leabhar Gabhála' and the Annals of the Four Masters which never saw print. He died in Dublin on 1 March 1766. His son, William Francis Sullivan served in the American Navy, and published plays and poems.