Background
Temple was born in London on 25 March 1632. He was a son of Sir John Temple and his wife Mary Hammond, daughter of Doctor John Hammond, of Chertsey, Surrey.
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John Temple
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Education
He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford where he was awarded Bachelor in 1649 and was admitted to Lincoln"s Inn on 4 May 1650.
Career
He was the great-great-grandfather of the distinguished statesman Henry John Temple, 3rd Viscount Palmerston. His descendants in the female line include the famous poet Lord Byron. He was awarded Master of Arts at Cambridge University in 1652 and was called to the bar in 1657.
In July 1660, he was appointed Solicitor General for Ireland, and in May 1661, he was elected to the Irish House of Commons as member for Carlow Borough.
In September, he became the Speaker of Parliament in Ireland. He was knighted on 15 August 1663.
On his return to Ireland in 1691 he was granted title to some 12,000 acres in County Sligo. These lands were confiscated from the native Irish.
After the Glorious Revolution of 1688 had ended with the defeat of the Jacobite forces in 1691, he returned to Ireland, and served as Attorney General for Ireland until May 1695.
He retired to his estates at East Sheen, south of London, and died there on 10 March 1705. Temple married Jane Yarner (died 1708), daughter of Sir Abraham Yarner (died 1677), the Muster-master for Ireland, in 1663 and had numerous children with her, of whom at least six reached adulthood. The eldest surviving son, Henry (c1673–1757) became the first Viscount Palmerston.
Temple also had four surviving daughters:
Her portrait was painted by Michael Dahl.
On the accession of Queen Anne, who disliked her, she was forbidden the Court, but was restored to favour under George I, and became governess to the royal children. Mary who married Thomas Flower and was the mother of William Flower, 1st Baron Castle Durrow.
Catherine (died 1694), who married firstly Charles, only son of Sir Robert Ward, first and last of the Ward Baronets of Killagh, and secondly Charles King.
