Charles Porter, English-born judge (d. 1696)
Sir Charles Porter (0 – 8 December 1696), was a flamboyant and somewhat controversial English-born politician and judge, who nonetheless enjoyed a highly successful career.
He sat in the English House of Commons, and was twice Lord Chancellor of Ireland. As Lord Chancellor, he survived an attempt by his political enemies to impeach him, and defeated their attempts to persuade the English Crown to remove him from office. In the last months of his life he was effectively the head of the Irish government. In his dealings with the Irish people he was noted for tolerance in religious matters.
He was a heavy drinker and reputedly something of a womaniser, and was chronically short of money, despite having married a wealthy heiress as his second wife. Nonetheless as a lawyer he was considered to be entirely honest, and he did not take bribes. Although he had his critics, he was described by his friends as "a man who had the good fortune to be universally beloved".