Marcus Paterson

Who was Marcus Paterson?

Marcus Paterson was an Irish politician, Solicitor-General for Ireland and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas. He became the Member of Parliament for Ballynakill in 1756 and Lisburn in 1768. He was appointed as Solicitor-General in 1764 and became Chief Justice of Common Pleas in 1770. He held office until his death although he had been contemplating retirement due to ill health.

He was a native of Ennis, County Clare; and was the third son of Montrose Paterson. He went to school in Limerick and graduated from the University of Dublin.

In character he seems to have been an eighteenth-century "rake": he was famed for his hospitality, shortened his life by heavy drinking and fought numerous duels. On the other hand he was a considerable scholar, a fine lawyer and a diligent and zealous law officer.