Richard Bettesworth

Richard Bettesworth (1689-1741) was an Irish politician, Law Officer and barrister of the early eighteenth century. He was a quarrelsome individual, and his list of enemies included Jonathan Swift, the publisher George Faulkner and Josiah Hort, Bishop of Kilmore and future Archbishop of Tuam.[1]

Midleton, County Cork, with which the Bettesworth family had a long-standing association

He was born in Midleton, County Cork in 1689 and educated at Trinity College, Dublin.[2] He may have been a son or grandson of Thomas Bettesworth, who was appointed one of the original burgesses of the town of Midleton in 1672, shortly after it received its royal charter from King Charles II of England. Richard entered the Middle Temple in 1710, was called to the Irish Bar in 1716, and took silk in 1728.[3] He entered the Irish House of Commons, sitting for Thomastown 1721-7 and for Midleton from 1727 to his death. He was appointed second Serjeant-at-law at the Irish Bar in 1732.[3]

  1. ^ Hart 2000, pp. 80–81.
  2. ^ "Alumni Dublinenses: a register of the students, graduates, professors and provosts of Trinity College in the University of Dublin (1593–1860)" George Dames Burtchaell/Thomas Ulick Sadleir p63: Dublin, Alex Thom and Co, 1935
  3. ^ a b Hart 2000, p. 164.