Background
He was the third son of Edward Osbaldeston of Osbaldeston Hall, a member of an old and prominent Lancashire family, and Maud, daughter of Sir Thomas Halsall.
He was the third son of Edward Osbaldeston of Osbaldeston Hall, a member of an old and prominent Lancashire family, and Maud, daughter of Sir Thomas Halsall.
He was educated at Street Mary Hall, Oxford and entered Gray"s Inn in 1577, becoming Ancient of the Inn in 1593.
The Osbaldestons were related to the Stanleys, Earls of Derby, and Edward seems to have owed his rise to their patronage. He sat in the House of Commons of England as member for Newton in the Parliament of 1597-1598. In 1601 his patroness Alice, Countess of Derby lobbied on his behalf for an official position in Ireland.
In 1605 he was sent there as a justice of the Court of King"s Bench (Ireland).
Unfortunately for his future career prospects the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Arthur Chichester, soon formed a very poor view of his efficiency, and within two years he was moved to the office of Chief Justice of Connacht. A step which was universally seen as a demotion for incompetence.
He served on a number of Crown commissions and wrote a report on the state of Galway City in 1626. He retired in 1634; his precise date of death does not seem to be recorded.
Richard Osbaldeston, Attorney General for Ireland, was a cousin of Geoffrey"s of the next generation.