Chief Justice Charles Kendal Bushe ^{2 3}

  General Notes:

1767-1843; noted orator, called 'The Incorruptible'; ed. TCD; bar. 1790; MP for Callan, 1797; opposed union; sarjeant at law; Solicitor General, 1805-22; Chief Justice 1822-1841; Cease Your Funning (1799), and speeches as pamphlets; there is a life by OE Somerville and Martin Ross, being cousins and his greatgranddaughters. DNB DIH CAB

OE Somerville and Martin Ross, An Incorruptible Irishman (1906)

Ely Place
At No. 5, Charles Kendal Bushe lived during the third decade of the century. In 1822 he was appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench. As an advocate, a writer in the Dublin University Magazine (1841) says of him: "It was said of Bushe that he charmed the verdict from the jury by the fascination of his eye.' His manner was calm, dignified, and grand. Kemble pronounced him with truth the most perfect actor off the stage. We
do not believe that Erskine, the great glory of the English Bar, could for a moment, as an advocate to a jury, be placed in competition with Bushe."

"His imposing figure and deportment," says W. H Curran (Sketches of the Irish Bar) his graceful, persuasive gestures, his manly, pliant features, so easily seduced from their habitual dignity by a love of gentlemanly fun, his fine sonorous voice, his genial laughter - were some, though not all, of the ingredients in that combination which made Bushe the most fascinating of companions."

Grattan said of him that "he spoke with the lips of an angel." Among his social qualifications was a strong talent for repartee.

One illustration may be given. Being asked by an acquaintance not very clean in his person if he would give him a remedy for a sore throat, he told him to "take a pint of hot water, put in it a pint of bran, and rub his leg well for a quarter of an hour." "Why," replied the other, "that is nothing more than washing my feet." "I admit," said Bushe,. "that it is open to that objection."

When Sir Robert Peel was Chief Secretary of Ireland he met, on one occasion, an Irish country squire remarkable for his vulgarity. Bushe was a neighbour, and the squire was loud in his praises of the Irish orator. Peel asked "what was Mr. Bushe's forte?" "His what?" asked the squire. "What is he most remarkable for?" "Ha! I understand - the jury." "And how does he manage the jury?" "Troth, this way, he blarneys them. He
first butthers them up., and then he slithers them down." Bushe removed from Ely Place to Upper Mount Street.

Upper Mount Street

At No .17, Charles Kendal Bushe, Chief Justice, lived during the last year of his life, having removed hither from Ely Place. He retired from the Bench a year or two before his death. It is said that the excitement consequent on the circumstances attending his retirement seriously affected his health.

He died from erysipelas following a slight surgical operation, in 1843, aged 66. Shiel, in his Sketches, Legal and Political, gives a very minute word-portrait of Bushe. He describes' his complexion as "too sanguineous and ruddy," his forehead as "more lofty than expansive," the eyes "large, globular, and blue . . not much brilliancy or fire;" the nose "slightly arched," and the mouth, in its combined characteristics of "force,
firmness, and precision," at once "affable and commanding, proud and kind . . the most remarkable feature in his countenance."

Barrington gives his testimony to the "incorruptibility" of Bushe's character, and' says he was "as nearly devoid of public or private enemies as any man."

  Noted events in his life were:

• Residence: 5 Ely Place, Dublin, Ireland. ¹

• Occupation: Solicitor General, 1805-1822, Ireland. ¹

• Occupation: Lord Chief Justice, King's Bench, 1822-1841, Ireland. ¹

• Residence, 1843, 17 Upper Mount Street, Dublin, Ireland. ¹

Charles married Anne Crampton, daughter of John Fiennes Twistleton Crampton and Anne Verner, on 11 Dec 1793 in St. Peter's, Dublin, Leinster, Ireland.¹ (Anne Crampton was born on 24 Mar 1768 in Merrion Square, Dublin, Ireland ¹ and died on 17 May 1857 ¹.)