Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet

Who was Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet?

Sir William Yorke, 1st Baronet PC was an English-born politician and judge in Ireland.

Yorke was born in Northampton, son of the Reverend John Yorke. The future Lord Chancellor, Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke, was a cousin: William, unlike Philip, is said to have been only a mediocre lawyer and probably owed his advancement largely to his family connections. He was educated at the Charterhouse and the University of Cambridge, and was called to the Bar about 1723. Not much is recorded about his legal practice: in 1743 he was appointed a judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas.

Yorke found life in Ireland agreeable, writing enthusiastic letters home about the hospitality and civilised conversation. For his Chief, Henry Singleton, he had the greatest regard both as man and judge; personal ties were strengthened in 1744 when Yorke married Singleton's widowed niece Charity Cope. Charity brought him a comfortable fortune with which he bought and rebuilt Rathmines Castle. As Singleton's health began to fail, Yorke pushed him gently towards retirement: eventually in 1753 Singleton stepped down as Chief Justice, to be replaced by Yorke; soon afterwards Singleton accepted the sinecure of Master of the Rolls in Ireland.