Court clerk
He was a man of great erudition, who was described, no doubt with some exaggeration, as the most learned man ever to practice at the Irish Bar. He was also an exceptionally hard worker, and above all a superb advocate. He made his reputation with his speech for the defendant, which was described as "a masterpiece of eloquence", in the leading "quo warranto" case, "R. v. Waller O'Grady", in 1816, where the Crown challenged the right of Standish O'Grady, 1st Viscount Guillamore, the Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer to appoint his younger son as a Court clerk.