CURRAN, JOHN Puttxor (1750-IS17). An Irish judge and orator. Ile was born at New market, Cork County, July 24. 1750. and edu cated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he was more dissipated than studious. In 1773 he went to London and studied law assiduously at the 'iddle Temple. He was called to the Irish bar in 1775, and soon won success by his ability and social qualities. He was an expert cross-exam iner and possessed a thorough acquaintance with every intricacy of the cunning native mind. In 1782 he became member for Kilbeggan in the Irish Parliament and supported a liberal policy. His sarcasm led him into several fortunately harmless duels. In 178S he favored the forma tion of an Irish volunteer army corps, and elo quently protested against the English policy which led to the rebellion of 1798. His fearless defense of the leaders at the State trials, and 'Robert Emmet's affection for his daughter, the heroine of Moore's pathetic poem, led to Curran's examination before the Privy Council, but he was found guiltless of complicity. He bitterly
opposed the Union, as the 'annihilation of Ire land': and its consummation, crowding on do mestic trouble, seriously impaired his health. After the death of Pitt, Fox appointed him "Mas ter of the Rolls with a seat in the Privy Council. lie held the office from 1806-13, and retired on a pension. As a distinguished man among the brilliant men of the period, he spent the last three years of his life in London, where he died, October 14, 1S17. His memory is preserved by excellent examples of sparkling wit and repar tee found in various memoirs. Consult: Phil lips, Recollections of Curran and His Contempo raries (London, 1850) ; Curran, Life of Curran (London, 1819: New York, 1855) ; Stephens, Memoir ( London, 1817 ) O'Regan, Memoir (London, 1817) ; and Curran's Speeches, with a Life, edited by Davis (Dublin, 1855).