David Richard Pigot

His children included John Edward Pigot, a noted music collector and one of the founders of the National Gallery of Ireland.

Both agree that he had one serious fault - his habit of inquiring into the most minute details of litigation, which tended to greatly prolong the length of hearings.

Ball states however that the Irish Bar regarded this with indulgence as a very minor fault in a judge for whom they felt the greatest respect.

In his later years, questions were raised in the press about his ability to perform his duties, but these criticisms were solely on account of his physical health, rather than any lack of legal skill: in 1855 the Law Times named him as one of five senior judges alleged to be too old or ill to perform effectively, and noted that he had recently spent six months in Spain for his health.

Of his sons, probably the most distinguished was John Edward (1822-1871), the eldest, who was a close friend of the poet and Young Irelander Thomas Davis.

He was called to the Bar, and practised for some years in India, but is better remembered today as a noted collector of Irish music, and for playing a leading role in founding the National Gallery of Ireland,[6] of which he was one of the original Governors.

[7] David junior was a master in the Court of Exchequer: he married Christina Murray, daughter of Sir James Murray, the eminent doctor and chemist and his first wife Mary Sharrock, and was the father of the noted Australian Jesuit and astronomer Edward Pigot (1858-1929).