Edward Poynings, Known for His Introduction of Poynings Law, Is Appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland

Edward Poynings is appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1494 under King Henry VII. He is best known for introducing Poynings’ Law, a landmark statute that required the Irish Parliament to obtain prior approval from the English Crown for both its meetings and legislative agenda.

Poynings’ Law, enacted in 1495, effectively brought Irish legislative autonomy under English control, ensuring that all proposed laws had to be reviewed and approved by the English king and his council before being debated in Ireland. The law remained a central mechanism of English dominance in Irish governance for nearly three centuries, until it was repealed in 1782 during the period of Grattan’s Parliament.

Poynings’ tenure marked a turning point in Tudor centralization of authority in Ireland, solidifying the Crown’s grip on Anglo-Irish politics.