Henry Singleton

Who was Henry Singleton?

Henry Singleton was an Irish judge, remembered now mainly for his friendship with Jonathan Swift.

He was born in Drogheda, son of John Singleton, Member of Parliament for the town. He went to school in Drogheda, graduated from the University of Dublin and was called to the Bar in 1707. Like his father he sat in the Irish House of Commons for Drogheda and narrowly missed becoming Speaker; he was also Recorder of Drogheda and became Prime Serjeant in 1726. He was raised to the Bench as Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas in 1740.

Within a few years however his health began to fail, despite frequent visits to Bath and Spa in the hope of a cure. Despite pressure from William Yorke, his nephew by marriage, who was anxious to succeed him, he was reluctant to step down. Eventually in 1753 he resigned; the following year he became Master of the Rolls in Ireland.He held the Mastership until he died, unmarried, in 1759.

Despite a rather haughty manner, Singleton was universally liked and respected. He enjoyed the friendship of Jonathan Swift, who called him " the first of the worthiest " and appointed him his executor. Yorke, his successor as Chief Justice, even while nudging him towards retiremennt, had nothing but praise for Singleton as man and judge.The best tribute to his character is his conduct during the Great Famine of 1740 when he donated much of his wealth to the relief of the poor.