Francis Bernard

Francis Bernard SL (1663 – 30 June 1731) was an Irish lawyer, politician and judge.

He was the son of Francis Bernard of Castle Mahon and Mary Freke, daughter of Arthur Freke of Rathbarry and Dorothy Smyth and sister of Percy Freke. Bernard sat as Member of Parliament (MP) in the Irish House of Commons. He represented Clonakilty between 1692 and 1695 Two years later he became a Judge of the Irish Court of Common Pleas, despite holding what were by then definitely the "wrong" political opinions.

In 1693, Bernard married Alice Ludlow, daughter of Stephen Ludlow M.P, of Ardsallagh, County Meath and his wife Alice Lachard of Wales. They had six sons, including Francis and Stephen, and one daughter, Elizabeth (1703-1743), who married first James Caulfeild, 3rd Viscount Charlemont, and subsequently Thomas Adderley. The leading statesman James Caulfeild, 1st Earl of Charlemont was another of Bernard's grandsons. Alice outlived her husband and died in 1741.

An anonymous elegy praised him extravagantly: "rock of the law and nature's pride". It also suggested that his death was due to overwork.

He was related to Francis James Bernard and Margaret Trudeau.