Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Brady, Maziere

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464452Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 06 — Brady, Maziere1886Arthur Henry Grant

BRADY, Sir MAZIERE (1796–1871), lord chancellor of Ireland, born on 20 July 1796, was a great-grandson of the Rev. Nicholas Brady, D.D. [q. v.], the psalmist, and the second son of Francis Tempest Brady, a gold and silver thread manufacturer in Dublin. In 1812 Brady entered Trinity College, Dublin; in 1814 he obtained a scholarship there, and twice carried off the vice-chancellor's prize for English verse. He proceeded B.A. (1816) and M.A. (1819), and was called to the Irish bar in Trinity term of 1819. In 1833, under the ministry of Earl Grey, he, as an avowed liberal, was appointed one of the commissioners to inquire into the state of the Irish municipal corporations. In 1837 he was made solicitor-general for Ireland, in succession to Nicholas Ball [q. v.], and became attorney-general in 1839. In the year following he was promoted to the bench as chief baron of the Court of Exchequer. He was raised to the bench of the Irish Court of Chancery, somewhat against his inclination, in 1846. He was lord chancellor of Ireland during the Russell administration, 1847-52. He became in 1850 the first vice-chancellor of the Queen's University, of the principles of which foundation Brady was a constant advocate. From 1853 to 1858 Brady was again lord chancellor of Ireland. He resumed the post once more in 1859, and held it through the second administrations of Lord Palmerston and Earl Russell until the overthrow of the latter in 1866. On 28 June of that year he sat for the last time in the Irish Court of Chancery. He retired amidst general regret. He was fond of scientific studies, especially geology. In 1869 he was created a baronet by Mr. Gladstone. He died at his residence in Upper Pembroke Street, Dublin, on Thursday, 13 April 1871. At the time of his death, besides holding the vice-chancellorship of the Queen's University, he was a member of the National Board of Education, and president of the Irish Art Union, and of the Academy of Music.

Brady was twice married: first, in 1823, to Eliza Anne, daughter of Bever Buchanan of Dublin, who died in 1858: and secondly to Mary, second daughter of the Right Hon. John Hatchell, P.C., of Fortfield House, co. Dublin. His first wife left him five children, by the eldest of whom, Francis William Brady, Q.C., he was succeeded in his title and estates.

[Catalogue of Dublin Graduates, 1869; Freeman's Journal, 14 and 18 April 1871; Daily News, 15 April 1871; Irish Times, 18 April 1871; Times, 15 and 13 April 1871; Burke's Lives of the Lord Chancellors of Ireland, 1872; Wills's Irish Nation, its History and its Biography, 1875; Debrett's Baronetage, 1884.]

A. H. G.

Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.35
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line

Page Col. Line  
191 ii 18 Brady, Sir Maziere: for Nicholas Ball read Stephen Woulfe
25 for 1847 read 1846