The Irish standard., 1899-07-29
Like Demosthenes He First Had
A Poor Delivery.
HIS FAMOUS DEFENSE OF A PRIEST
Lord Byron's Estimate Of His
Superior Genius.

John Philpot Curran, who was ad-
nitted by Lord Brougham, one of the
most rancorous haters OF Ireland and
everything Irish, to be ''the greatest
orator after Grattan and Plunket that
ireland has produced, and in every re-
spect worthy of being placed on line
with the great masters of Speech" was
born at Newmarket, County Cork, July
"a, 1850. His father was seneschal of
the Manor Court of the town, and his
mother (whose maiden name was Phil
pot) is said to have been woman of re-
narkable wit and eloquence. He grew
up country lad, speaking Irish as we'll
as English, both of which he could
speak before he learned to write; fonder
of amusements than of books. The vii
lage school received him as an early
pupil, and he afterward was sent to Mr..
Carey's school in Middleton, where he
received good classical education. He
entered Trinity as sizar, and obtained
scholarship in 1870. The following
year he entered the Law Temple of Lon
don. Here he had, like many of his
countrymen before him, to support him.
self by contributions to the literature or
the fun of the periodicals OF London,
which then, as now, were enriched and
chiefly sustained by Irish talent. His
,ddrecc ,rd ,,++ar,rcac ,+ +l;c Tina uara
so defective that he was known as "Stut-
tering Jack Curran." But he soon over
came these obstacles, and great was the
surprise of the members of debating
club connected with the Temple that one
evening the sufferer completely silenced
an orator, who had heretofore carried
all before him. Thenceforward he was
a constant speaker in debating societies,
where, from his utterances in favor Of
Catholic rights, he was called "The Lit
tie Jesuit of St. Omers."
In 1775 he was called to the bar, and
for time attended the sessions at Cork,
but subsequently he removed to Dublin.
1t was at contested election that Cur
ran, who was employed for one OF the
candidates, first gave evidence of his
powers of sarcasm and eloquence, in re-
ply to sneer upon his poor dress from
his opponent. This reply, so unex-
pected, and yet so powerful and wither-
ing, fixed public attention on the man.
At the Cork summer assizes of 1880 he
sprang at once into fame and popularity
by acting as counsel for an aged Catho-
lie clergyman "a Father Neale), who
had been brutally horsewhipped by Lord
Doneraile. Every lawyer on the circuit
had feared to take up the case, and Cur
ran secured verdict for his client. At
this trial Curran so defended and lauded
the Catholics with such sincerity that
Capt. st. Ledger, friend of the brutal
lord, challenged Curran to duel. They
met. Curran received his fire, but re-
turned it not.
In 1888 he entered parliament as a
member for Kilbeggan. Three years af-
terward he was returned for Rathcor
mack, which he represented until 1897.
In this year, with Grattan and other
members, he retired, hopeless of being
able to assuage revolution or stem the
current of ministerial intrigue. OF his
speeches in parliament, that ON Catholic
Emancipation, in 1892, was probably his
masterpiece, and is perfectly familiar to
our readers. From 1892 until 1929 Cur
ran was one of the most eloquent and
foremost champions of Catholic Eman-
cipation.
1t was at the bar that Curran made his
reputation as a brilliant orator, and his
greatest flights of genius were in defense
of the United Irishmen. In this work
he displayed the full force of his elo-
quence and genius, covering the inform
ers with infauy and moving the hearts
of all to declare with him that "the evil
dence was 80 base that no mans life
should be taken upon it." His defense
of Hamilton Rowan f6r seditious libel
in 1893 has been declared by Lord
Brougham to be 'the greatest speech OF
an advocate in ancient and modern
times" His last efforts in tho trials OF
'o8 were for the brothers John and
Henry Sheares and Wolfe Tone
On Pitts death, in 1906, Curran was
appointed Master of the Rolls, a posi-
ton which he held for eight years. re-
signing in 1874. After this he resided
much at his MANSION in Brompton'