Background
He was born at Woodseaves, Market Drayton, Shropshire, eldest son of John Povey.
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John Povey
Edit ProfileEducation
He was educated at Trinity College, Oxford, and matriculated in 1636.
Career
He entered Gray"s Inn in 1638 and was called to the Bar in 1645. He was first heard of in Ireland in 1658, as counsel to Sir John Barrington, 3rd Baronet, who although he was a cousin of Oliver Cromwell, had refused to sit as one of the judges of Charles I. Povey then went on the Munster circuit, did well at the Irish Bar, and brought his family over from England. He lived at Nicholas Saint in Dublin, and later bought Powerstown House, Mulhuddart.
He sat in the Irish House of Commons as member for Swords and was a Commissioner of Revenue Appeals.
He was appointed third Baron of the Exchequer in 1663. One of his more notable cases was to allow the indictment of several persons for abetting murders during the Irish Rebellion of 1641.
In 1673 the office of Lord Chief Justice fell vacant. The most highly qualified candidates, although both had health problems, were Povey and Sir Robert Booth.
Povey, with his connection to the future James II"s household, was an acceptable compromise.
He was knighted, and given the freedom of Dublin. He earned praise as Chief Justice, and was suggested for transfer to the English Bench in 1675. But soon after his wife"s death in 1677 his health failed.
He went to France in hope of a cure, but died at Bordeaux early in 1679, and was buried in Saint Michan"s Church, Dublin
They had four children:
John Povey (c1649-1715) Member of Parliament Charles
Richard
Mary, who married Doctor William Smyth, Bishop of Raphoe, and later Bishop of Kilmore.
