Francis Bernard (judge)
Francis Bernard SL was an Irish lawyer, politician and judge.
He was the son of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon and Mary Freke, daughter of Arthur Freke and Dorothy Smyth and sister of Percy Freke. Bernard sat as Member of Parliament in the Irish House of Commons. He represented Clonakilty between 1692 and 1695 and subsequently Bandonbridge between 1695 and 1727. He was appointed Solicitor-General for Ireland in 1711, a post he held until 1714, and Prime Serjeant in 1724. Two years later he became a Judge on the Irish Court of Common Pleas.
In 1693, Bernard married Alice Ludlow, daughter of Stephen Ludlow M.P. They had a daughter, Elizabeth, who married firstly James Caulfeild, 3rd Viscount Charlemont, and secondly Thomas Adderley, and six sons. His grandson James, son of Major North Ludlow Bernard and his first wife Rose Echlin, was the ancestor of the Earls of Bandon. The leading statesman James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont was another of Bernard's grandsons.
