Stephen Woulfe

Stephen Woulfe (1787 – 2 July 1840) was an Irish barrister and Liberal politician. He served as Solicitor-General for Ireland, 1836 and as Attorney-General for Ireland in 1838;. He was the first Roman Catholic to be appointed Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer, but died young due to a combination of poor health and overwork.

Woulfe was born in Ennis, County Clare in 1787, to Stephen Woulfe and Honora Woulfe (née McNamara). His father was a distant cousin of the great general James Wolfe; his mother was a sister of Admiral James Macnamara.

He was educated at the lay college at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, before becoming one of the first Catholics to attend Trinity College, Dublin where he studied law, before being called to the Bar in 1814.

He was elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Cashel at a by-election in 1835, and held the seat until his resignation from the House of Commons in 1838. He showed great zeal in the fight for Catholic Emancipation; but incurred the hostility of Daniel O'Connell by arguing that the Government was entitled to have a veto on the appointment of Catholic bishops. O'Connell subjected Woulfe to public ridicule, asking "are the sheep to be left to the mercy of this wolf (Woulfe)" ? Woulfe's views endeared him to the Government and this, together with his undoubted legal ability ensured his rapid promotion.

He was married to Frances Hamill of Dowth, County Meath, and had a son and a daughter. His grandson Edward Sheil (the son of his daughter Mary Leonora, who married Sir Justin Sheil) was an Irish Nationalist MP.

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