Henry Deane Grady

Henry Deane Grady (1764-1847), was a Member of Parliament for Limerick in both the Parliament of Ireland and the Parliament of the United Kingdom.[1] His name is also sometimes given as O'Grady.

He was born in Limerick about 1764, the son of Standish Grady and Frances Deane.[1] After studying law, he began his career as a barrister in 1787.[1] In 1794 he married Dorcas Spread of Ballycannon, County Cork; they had three sons and five daughters.[1] In 1821 Grady's daughter Amelia married Edward Chichester, Dean of Raphoe, who in 1871 succeeded as Marquess of Donegall.[2][n 1]

Grady was a member of the Royal Dublin Society, and a noted duelist.[2] He was elected to the Irish parliament for Limerick City in 1797.[1]

Despite the potential political cost to himself, Grady supported the Union with Great Britain. In 1799, he wrote, "I suffer much in my expectations because, if I pursue my profession, I must remain in this country, and it is idle to say that an individual here, however industrious or intelligent as a barrister, unknown to the British minister in the Imperial Parliament, can expect that situation of which, as a member of the Irish parliament, time, zeal and fitness for judicial situation acquired at least through practice, might induce a reasonable hope...."[1]

In the general election of 1801, Grady was elected to the new Limerick City constituency in the UK Parliament. He appeared at Westminster in November 1801.[1] He did not seek re-election.[1]

For his support of the Union, Dublin Castle appointed him second counsel to the revenue board, with an annual salary of £1,200.[1] Disappointed in not having been better remunerated for his Unionism, Grady supported opposition candidates in the general elections of 1812 and 1818.[1] He died 8 September 1847.[1]