John Elliott (judge)

Sir John Elliott (1546-1617) was an Irish judge of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth centuries, who held office as third Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland).

[1] He was born at Balreask (or Balrisk), County Meath, son of Thomas Elliott, former Master Gunner for Ireland, and Elizabeth Smart.

[2] Elliott and his second wife Ismay built a church (now a ruin) on the Archbishop's lands at Balsoon in County Meath, and are buried there.

[1] During the Nine Years War, he was sent to negotiate with the Gaelic leader Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone in 1596.

[1] This no doubt raised his credit with the English Crown, which complained that many judges were reluctant to travel outside Dublin.

[1] During the Parliament of 1613-15 he attended with his colleague, Sir William Sparke of the Court of King's Bench, before the House of Lords to act as their legal advisor, a role commonly performed by the High Court judges at the time.