John Chevir

Who is John Chevir?

John Chevir was an Irish judge and politician. He held the offices of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland and Master of the Rolls in Ireland, and was also one of the first recorded Speakers of the Irish House of Commons.

He was born in Kilkenny, son of John Chevir senior, justice of the peace. He was the younger brother of William Chevir who also had a successful, if somewhat turbulent career, holding office as judge of the Court of King's Bench, Deputy Treasurer of Ireland and Deputy to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

John was at Lincoln's Inn in 1442 and soon after is found acting as legal adviser to James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormonde in London, but he returned to Ireland before 1450. John and his brother were strong supporters of the Earl of Ormonde's faction, one of the two major parties in Irish politics in the 1430s and 1440s. He was then appointed Master of the Rolls; this was then a less important office than it became later, and its duties were administrative rather than judicial. It was clearly a part-time office since he was returned to the Irish House of Commons at the same time and was one of the first known Speakers.