Alexander Plunket

Who was Alexander Plunket?

Alexander Plunket was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland by King Henry VII of England in 1492. Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester was Lord Chancellor and Lord Treasurer of Ireland before Plunket. The offices were split between Alexander Plunket and Sir James Ormond, who became Lord Treasurer of Ireland. Ireland was in great conflict at this time, as Henry VII tried to get the Irish to pledge loyalty to him, instead of their own Kings and Princes. O'Flanagan states that it is impossible to form any opinion on his career as Chancellor, since no record of his judgments exist.

He was born at Rathmore in County Meath, son of Sir Thomas Fitz-Christopher Plunket, Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and his second wife Marion Cruce; he was a first cousin of another Sir Thomas Plunket who became Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas, both being grandsons of Christopher Plunket, 1st Baron Killeen.

He married firstly Anne Marward, daughter of Baron Skryne; secondly Margaret Butler, sister of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormonde, and thirdly a close relative of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare.