John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury

John Toler, 1st Earl of Norbury PC, KC (3 December 1745 – 27 July 1831), known as The Lord Norbury between 1800 and 1827, was an Irish lawyer, politician and judge. A greatly controversial figure in his time, he was nicknamed the "Hanging Judge" and was considered to be one of the most corrupt legal figures in Irish history.

Background and education Born at Beechwood, Nenagh, County Tipperary, Norbury was the youngest son of Daniel Toler, M.P., and Letitia, daughter of Thomas Otway (1665–1724), of Lissenhall, Nenagh, County Tipperary. His elder brother Daniel Toler was also a politician, serving as High Sheriff for Tipperary and also as M.P. for Tipperary. The Toler family was originally from Norfolk but settled in County Tipperary in the 17th century. He was educated at Kilkenny College and at Trinity College Dublin. He also had a townhouse at No 3 Great Denmark Street, Dublin. He had a country house and estate at Durrow Abbey, County Offaly.

Political and legal career, 1770–1800 After graduating from university Norbury entered the legal profession and was called to the Irish Bar in 1770. In 1781 he was appointed a King's Counsel. and later represented Philipstown between 1783 and 1790 It has been said of him that he was "generally regarded as Ireland's most notorious judge with a penchant for hanging that ran even the infamous Judge Jeffreys close." His most famous trial was that of Irish Republican leader Robert Emmet. Hector John Graham-Toler, 2nd Earl of Norbury (1781–1839), who married Elizabeth Brabazon, daughter of William Brabazon and Elizabeth Phibbs, in 1808. He was considered to be the father of John Brinkley. He was shot "by an assassin, in his own plantation" at Durrow in 1839, although if his obituary is to be believed he had gone further than most Ascendancy landlords to assuage his tenants' lot.