Nicholas Lumbard

He was a native of Waterford City. He was the son of Richard Lumbard, and probably a close relative of William Lumbard, who was four times Mayor of Waterford between 1377 and 1387.[1] The family, as their name suggests, had come to Ireland from Lombardy aain northern Italy in the thirteenth century. They became one of the most prominent families in Waterford, producing no less than nine Mayors and giving their name to Lombard Street; perhaps the most notable family member was Peter Lombard (c.1555-1625), Archbishop of Armagh. One branch of the family founded Lombardstown, County Cork.

Nicholas was Attorney-General for Ireland in 1345: he is one of the first known holders of the office.[2] In 1356 he was appointed a Baron of the Court of Exchequer (Ireland), but the appointment was cancelled, apparently on the grounds that it was "a mistake". In 1360 he became second justice of the Court of King's Bench (Ireland).[3]

In 1364 Richard White, the Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, was sent by the Irish House of Commons to Westminster to present a report on "the true state of affairs in Ireland" and specifically to complain about maladministration by certain Crown officials. In White's absence Lumbard, as second justice, was acting Lord Chief Justice for 4 months.[4] His date of death is not recorded.

He was married with children: John Lumbard, also a judge of the King's Bench, and Deputy Constable of Ireland (died 1412) was probably his grandson.[5]

• Ball, F. Elrington The Judges in Ireland 1221-1921 John Murray London 1926
• Crooks, Peter "Hobbes", "Dogs", and Politics in the Ireland of Lionel of Antwerp c.1361-4 The Denis Bethell Prize Essay 2005
• MacLysaght, Edward The Surnames of Ireland Irish University Press 1973