John Bennett

John Bennett (c. 1720 – 1792) was an Irish politician, barrister and judge. His granddaughter married the celebrated writer Sheridan le Fanu.

Early life He was born in Cork, the son of George Bennett. William Henn of Paradise Hill, County Clare, a future colleague on the Bench, was his cousin. He was educated at Trinity College Dublin and at the Middle Temple. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1758. He entered politics but was not at first successful in his political career: although he was elected to the Irish House of Commons for Dungarvan in 1776, he was promptly unseated. In 1783 he stood for Parliament again both Castlemartyr and Charleville; he was successful in both contests and took his seat as member for Castelmartyr.

Judge

His first judicial office was Recorder of Cork, although the precise dates between which he held this office are uncertain; most probably he was Recorder from 1783 to 1787. In the latter year, he was appointed a justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland) and held that office till his death in 1792. Scott regarded another colleague, William Henn, Bennett's cousin, as "at best a fool". Jane was the sister of Sir Jonathan Lovett (c.1730-1812), first and last of the Lovett baronets. George Bennett QC (1777-1856), nicknamed "the unbending Tory lawyer". He had several children, including Susanna (died 1858), who married the celebrated writer Sheridan le Fanu, Jane, who married Richard Pennefather (1773-1859), Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland) and had issue. Susan (Susannah), who married Samuel Francis Delap of Monellan Castle, County Donegal in March 1800. She died and was buried in Marly-le-Roi, France in 1825, leaving issue, including Reverend Robert Delap, who inherited Monellan Castle, and Mary Ann, who married Somerset Richard Maxwell, 8th Baron Farnham.