Boyle Roche
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Sir Boyle Roche (1743 - 1807) was an Irish politician.
He is better remembered for the language of his speeches than his politics: they were reputedly riddled with mixed metaphors ("Mr Speaker, I smell a rat; I see him forming in the air and darkening the sky; but I'll nip him in the bud"), malapropisms and other unfortunate turns of phrase ("What has posterity ever done for us?").
He was arguing for the Habeas Corpus Suspension Bill, in Ireland:—"It would surely be better, Mr. Speaker," said he, "to give up not only a part, but, if necessary, even the whole, of our constitution, to preserve the remainder!"
External links
- A selection of quotes attributed to Roche (http://www.cfappeal.org/Fun_Stuff/Sir_Boyle_Roche/sir_boyle_roche.htm)