The office of Surveyor General of Ireland was an appointed officer under the Dublin Castle administration of Ireland in the 17th and 18th centuries.McParland 1995 The Surveyor General was typically responsible for the surveying, design and construction of civic works, and was often involved in overseeing the construction of military barracks and public buildings.Office of Public Works - About - History Though Surveyors General were officially appointed by the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, it was not unknown for the post to be "sold" by one holder to the next. For example, Arthur Jones-Nevill succeeded Arthur Dobbs in 1743, having paid £3,300 to secure the position. And despite being dismissed for maladministration, Nevill was allowed to sell the post on to Thomas Eyre in 1752. Eyre was the last holder of the office, which was abolished in 1763.
List of Surveyors General of Ireland Name Date(s)First or only date is date of appointment Term Deputy Surveyors Notes, refs. Walter Cowley 15 November 1548 During pleasure Edmund Sutton 19 September 1551 Without tenure Michael FitzWilliam 12 May 1552 For life Grand uncle of Thomas FitzWilliam, 1st Viscount FitzWilliam Launcelot Alford 16 January 1572 During pleasure Sir Geoffrey Fenton 10 August 1591 For life Sir William Parsons 26 December 1602 During good behaviour Survey of the escheated counties of Ulster. Francis Blundell 18 February 1609 In reversion for life Sir William Parsons 14 February 1610 Re-instated. Sir William Parsons and his brother Laurence Parsons 26 March 1611 For life Sir William Parsons, his son Richard Parsons, and Adam Loftus of Rathfarnham 24 December 1624 Upon surrender for life Benjamin Worsley 1652 During pleasure Surveys for Adventurers' Act and Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652 Vincent Gookin 11 January 1657 During pleasure Allen Brodrick 2 August 1658 For life Sir William Petty 18 September 1660 For life Down Survey. Date and term are from Hardinge, who says William's cousin John Pettie was the appointee. Sir James Shaen 13 February 1667 For life William Robinson 1670–1700 For life Charles Fort, Royal Hospital Kilmainham, St. Michan's, St. Mary's, Marsh's Library. William Molyneux 31 October 1684–98 For life Molyneux paid Robinson £250 in return for a half-share of the patent (half of £300 per annum). The revised patent was issued with help from James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde. The full patent would revert to one on the other's death. Thomas de Burgh 1700–30 Royal (Collins) Barracks, Trinity library, St. Werburgh's.Archiseek.com - Thomas Burgh (1670-1730) Edward Lovett Pearce 1730–33 Wings at Castletown House, Houses of Parliament, noted town-houses on Henrietta Street.Dictionary of Irish Architects - Edward Lovett Pearce Arthur Dobbs 1733–43 Finishing Houses of Parliament after Pearce's death, and becoming Governor of North Carolina.Dictionary of Irish Architects - Arthur Dobbs Arthur Jones-Nevill 1743–52 Gabriel Stokes (1748-52) Maladministration, poor quality of barracks, being dismissed from post. Thomas Eyre 1752–63 Joseph Jarratt (1752-62) Lodge (later Papal Nuncio residence) at Ashtown Castle, reconstruction of State Apartments and gardens at Dublin Castle.Dictionary of Irish Architects - Thomas Eyre
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