page_title: John Everard (MP)
section_title: Politics
hierarchical_section_title: John Everard (MP) / Politics
context_page_description: Sir John Everard was an Irish barrister, politician and judge. He was notable as being the last Irish judge until the reign of James II to openly profess the Roman Catholic faith. His religious beliefs eventually led to his enforced resignation from the Bench. He then entered politics, but his political career descended into farce when, having failed to become Speaker of the Irish House of Commons in 1613, he refused to vacate the Speaker's chair until the successful candidate, Sir John Davies, literally sat on him. He was in temporary disgrace as a result, but was later restored to royal favour. His second son, Sir Richard Everard, was the first of the Everard baronets of Ballyboy.
context_section_description: In 1613 the only Irish Parliament of the reign of James I was called,  and Everard was returned as member of the House of Commons  for Tipperary (his father had represented the same constituency in the Parliament of 1585-6). He was the choice of the Catholic members, who were still, if not a majority, at least  a very large  minority, as  Speaker; but  Lord Deputy Chichester was determined that his right-hand man Sir John Davies, the Attorney General for Ireland, should be Speaker. The Catholic members declared that Everard had been elected and he took the Speaker's chair. Matters then descended into farce when the Government  declared  that Davies had been elected Speaker: Everard, normally a man of  good sense,  foolishly refused to leave the chair until Davies, a very fat man, sat on him. Everard and his supporters then withdrew in protest.
  As a result of his conduct he was summoned to England and imprisoned in the Tower of London, and was expelled from the King's Inns. He was soon freed, and on his return to Ireland he urged the Catholic community to show moderation. Despite the debacle of his failed election as Speaker, he played an active role in the Parliament of 1613–5.
  He  was readmitted to the King's Inns, at the request, perhaps surprisingly, of Lord Deputy Chichester. Despite their differences in matters of  religion, the two men had become friends and  business partners,  and Chichester wrote to the Council of the  King's Inns,  praising Everard's good conduct in Parliament, and suggesting that a man who was so worthy in everything except religion should be readmitted. The Council, apparently without much enthusiasm, complied.
caption: Arthur Chichester, 1st Baron Chichester, a good friend to Everard despite their religious differences
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