he failed in a controversial motion for leave to introduce a bill to amend the laws on the political administration of the Church of Ireland, and to increase funds for Irish religious education and church building. In 1855, discouraged in his exertions as to reform, Shee consulted with Sharman Crawford and drafted a new Tenants' Improvement Compensation Bill, addressing some of the objections of the select committee. It fared no better than his earlier efforts. Shee's failure cost him the support of his voters and he lost his seat in the 1857 general election. Shee was defeated in Kilkenny again in 1859 general election and declined judicial office in Madras in 1860. He stood unsuccessfully in Stoke-on-Trent at a by-election in September 1862. Judge On 19 December 1863, Shee was appointed judge of the Queen's Bench, and knighted the following year. He was the first Roman Catholic judge in England since the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Shee died from apoplexy at his home in London. References Bibliography Barker, G. F. R. (2004) "Shee, Sir William (1804–1868)", rev. Hugh Mooney, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, accessed 24 July 2007 1804 births 1868 deaths Justices of the King's Bench Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for County Kilkenny constituencies (1801–1922) Serjeants-at-law (England) UK MPs 1852–1857 People from Finchley Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Alumni of Ushaw College