Curran. John Philpot, an Irish orator, born at Newmarket, county Cork, July 24, 1750, died in Brompton, a suburb of London, Oct. 14, 1817. His parents were persons of cultivation and refinement, and took great pains with his education. He entered Trinity college, Dublin, in 1769, with a view of preparing for the church, but afterward determined to adopt.the profession of the law, and in 1773 was entered as a student of the Middle Temple, London. The next year he married the daughter of Dr. Creagh of Dublin, and in 1775 he was called to the Irish bar. He was distinguished for his social qualities, and formed a club under the name of the Monks of St. Patrick, composed of the leading liberals of Dublin. He was often in great pecuniary embarrassment; but Lord Kilwarden, his political opponent but life-long personal friend, threw business in his way, and he soon had a large and lucrative practice, becoming the most popular barrister of his time. In 1782 he was returned to the Irish parliament as member for Kilbeggan, where his attacks upon the government involved him in two duels, which however terminated harmlessly. His eloquence was bold, impassioned, and original, designed to move the feelings rather than to convince by argument. His personal appearance was not prepossessing. His look was soft and boyish.

His voice was not naturally good, but he improved it by careful training. In the height of his popularity his wife eloped. He obtained a verdict against her seducer, but would not touch the damages awarded; he even allowed her a stipend, and went to London to see her when she was supposed to be dying. He was an ardent supporter of Catholic emancipation and liberal principles generally. His most brilliant orations were made in the courts in the defence of persons charged with political offences. Hi3 most noted speeches were those in defence of Theobald Wolfe Tone, Major Rowan, Oliver Bond, the brothers Shears, Jackson Finney, and Finnerty. He was strongly opposed to the union of Ireland with Great Britain, and after its accomplishment in 1800 he thought of emigrating to the United States. In 1803 he made one of his greatest speeches in defence of Owen Kirwan. The death of Pitt in 1806 having thrown the power into the hands of Fox and the liberals, Curran accepted the office of master of the rolls in Ireland, although he desired that of attorney general. The position was not suited to him, and from this time until his death he was subject to great dejection of spirits.

In 1814 he exchanged his office for a pension of £2,700. He resided chiefly in his mansion at Brompton, where he enjoyed the society of Sheridan, Home Tooke, Lord Erskine, the prince regent, and other distinguished men. William Godwin and Thomas Moore were his devoted friends. He was considered one of the wittiest men of his age. In 1817 he had an attack of apoplexy, and on Oct. 8 a second fit, of which he died the week following. - His speeches have been often published. See "Memoirs of the Legal, Literary, and Political Life of the Rt. Hon. John Philpot Curran,"by William O'Regan(1817), and "The Life of the Right Hon. John Philpot Curran," by his son William Henry Curran (1819).