Brodrick, Alan

Brodrick, Alan (c.1660–1728), created Viscount Midleton 1717. The second son of the Co. Cork landed family (see Brodrick (Midleton)), Brodrick was prominent in the sole right agitation and a leading Whig in the fierce party rivalry of Queen Anne's reign (1702–14). Though appointed lord chancellor in 1714, he resented the favour shown to his former Whig ally William Conolly, and encouraged his parliamentary followers, led by his son, St John Brodrick (c.1685–1728), sporadically to harass the administration over public finances, the sacramental test, and other issues. In 1725 the British government finally chose between the rivals, confirming Conolly's position as chief undertaker while Midleton resigned the chancellorship. The apparent link with his opposition to Wood's Halfpence gave this departure some aura of patriotism. But his sponsorship of patriot issues, from the sole right issue on, remains impossible to disentangle from the pursuit of party and personal advantage.