- John Philpot Curran
Image John Philpot Curran from NPG.jpg right 150px John Philpot Curran 24 July 1750 14 October 1817 was an Irish people Irish orator , politician and wit, born in Newmarket, County Cork Newmarket , County Cork . He was the son of James and Sarah Curran. Career A friend of the family, Rev. Nathaniel Boyse, arranged to have Curran educated at Midleton , County Cork . He studied law at Trinity College, Dublin he was described as the wildest, wittiest, dreamiest student and continued his legal studies at King s Inns and the Middle Temple . He was called to the Irish barrister bar in 1775. Upon his first trial, his nerves got the better of him and he couldn t proceed. His short stature, boyish features, shrill voice and a speech impediment hindered his career, and earned him the nickname Stutter ing Jack Curran . However, he could speak passionately in court on subjects close to his heart. He eventually overcame his nerves, and got rid of his speech impediment by constantly reciting Shakespeare and Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke Bolingbroke in front of a mirror, and became a noted orator and wit. His occasional tendency of challenging people to duel s he fought five in all rather than compromise his values, along with his skilful oratory, quick wit and his championing of popular Irish causes such as Catholic Emancipation and the enlargement of the franchise, made him one of the most popular lawyers in Ireland. He also could speak Irish language Irish , still the language of the majority at that time. He wrote a large amount of humorous and romantic poetry. The case which cemented Curran s popularity was that of Father Neale and Viscount Doneraile Lord Doneraile at the County Cork Assizes in 1780. Father Neale, an elderly Catholic priest in County Cork , criticised an adulterous parishioner. The adulterer s sister was mistress to Lord Doneraile, a cruel Protestant landlord . Doneraile demanded that Neale recant his criticism of his mistress brother. When the prie ... more details
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