Samuel Bradstreet

Sir Samuel Bradstreet, 3rd Baronet (October 1738 – 2 May 1791) was an Irish politician, barrister and judge. His independence of mind as a politician gave rise to the somewhat misleading nickname "Slippery Sam".

He was the second son of Sir Simon Bradstreet, 1st Baronet of Riversdale House in Kilmainham, Dublin and his wife and first cousin Ellen Bradstreet, daughter of Samuel Bradstreet of Gowran, County Kilkenny and Elizabeth Agar. In 1773, Samuel succeeded his older brother Simon as third baronet. and was then called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1758, becoming King's Counsel in 1767

In 1766, he became Recorder of Dublin. when he was appointed Fourth Justice at the Court of King's Bench (Ireland). Ironically, like several of his colleagues, Bradstreet as a politician had opposed increasing the number of High Court judges: Elrington Ball remarked cynically that an increase in the salary and a guarantee of security of tenure soon convinced him of the error of his ways. Unlike many of his colleagues, he was able to work harmoniously with his Chief Justice, John Scott, 1st Earl of Clonmell, who called him "my assistant".

He was a good and frequent speaker in Parliament: though loosely associated with the Irish Patriot Party he clashed on occasion with Henry Grattan, and claimed that the liberties granted by the Constitution of 1782 were insufficient. He was succeeded in the baronetcy by his oldest son Simon. His widow died in 1799.