John de Kirkby

John de Kirkby (died 1422) was an English scholar, cleric and Crown official who held high judicial office in Ireland, and ended his career as Archdeacon of Carlisle.

He is first heard of at the University of Oxford, where he is said to have been Master of a College. He was in holy orders and is said to have held numerous livings. He entered the Royal service, and became a clerk in the English Chancery. He first came to Ireland in the entourage of Thomas le Despencer, 1st Earl of Gloucester, in 1397. He was appointed Master of the Rolls in Ireland and acted as Deputy to the Lord Chancellor of Ireland.

After the downfall of Richard II Kirkby evidently transferred his allegiance to the new King Henry IV; he returned to England in 1400. He accompanied the King on his expedition to Scotland, before returning to Ireland in 1404.

He was appointed Archdeacon of Carlisle before 1415 and held the office until his death, which seems to have been in 1422.

Sources

• Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921