Attorney-General; judge. Educated Dr John Ellisons's Kilkenny College, matriculated at Trinity College, Dublin (BA 1796; LLB., LLD in 1808). In 1798 was called to the Irish Bar, practised in Dublin and in 1808 was admitted as an advocate in the 'Court of Prerogative and all other Ecclesiastical Courts'. By 1814 he had moved to Kilkenny and served in the Equity Courts and as county recorder. In 1825-25 was in the West Indies as a Commissioner of Inqury into the state of the captured negroes. On his return he moved to London. Mortgaged much property by 1827. Afflicted by debt and increasing deafness he was recommended to the Colonial Office as an experienced lawyer and settler and took on the office of Attorney General in New South Wales. Arrived in Sydney in June 1831. In April 1836 was appointed acting puisne judge in the Supreme Court. In september 1837 Kinchela was retired from the bench and appointed deputy commissary in the Vice Admiralty Court. In November 1840 he became a Master of Equity but was obliged to retire on grounds of ill health a year later.