Hugh Carleton, 1st Viscount Carleton Personal Computer SL, was an Irish judge.
Background
Carleton was born in Cork city, son of Francis Carleton (1713–1791) and Rebecca (d1791), daughter of Hugh Lawton of Castle Jane and Lake Marsh Company Cork. His father was a wealthy merchant from a family which settled in Cork in the time of Charles I. He was also a powerful local politician, popularly known as "the King of Cork" for his opulence and respectability.
Education
Hugh Carleton was educated at Kilkenny College, where he became friends with John Scott who stood up for him and protected him.
Career
In gratitude, Hugh"s father became patron to Scott, the future Earl of Clonmell, and sent both the boys off to Trinity College, Dublin and Middle Temple with equal allowances. Hugh matriculated at Dublin in 1755 and entered Middle Temple in 1758. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1764, becoming King"s Counsel in 1768.
With his father"s influence Carleton was assured of a seat in the Irish House of Commons: he was elected member for Tuam in 1772, for Philipstown in 1776 and for Naas in 1783.
As a politician he was not a success: M.P.s complained he was inaudible, though oddly this fault did not prevent him becoming a highly successful barrister. Carleton was appointed Recorder of Cork in 1769, Third Serjeant in 1776 and Second Serjeant in 1777.
He became Solicitor General for Ireland in 1779 and Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas from 1787 to 1800. He was raised to the Peerage of Ireland as Baron Carleton, of Amner in the County of Tipperary, on 17 September 1789, and was further honoured when he was made Viscount Carleton, of Clare in the County of Tipperary, on 21 November 1797, also in the Irish peerage.
On his death in 1826, both titles became extinct.
Membership
In 1787 he was invested as a member of the Privy Council of Ireland.