Downing Professor of the Laws of England
Encyclopedia
The Downing Professorship of the Laws of England is one of the senior professorships in law
at the University of Cambridge
.
The chair was founded in 1800 as a bequest of Sir George Downing
, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge
. The professorship was originally attached solely to Downing College (although the Professor undertook University activities). In the early 20th Century, for financial reasons, this professorship, together with the Downing Professor of Medicine
, was severed from the College.
The original electors of the chair were the Archbishop of Canterbury
, the Archbishop of York
, and the masters of the colleges of Clare
, St John's
and Downing
.
In 1788 Edward Christian
, brother of Fletcher Christian
, was appointed to the post prior to its official creation 12 years later.
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
.
The chair was founded in 1800 as a bequest of Sir George Downing
Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet
Sir George Downing, 3rd Baronet, KB was a politician and, through a donation in his will, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge.Gordon Goodwin, ‘Downing, Sir George, third baronet ’, rev...
, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
. The professorship was originally attached solely to Downing College (although the Professor undertook University activities). In the early 20th Century, for financial reasons, this professorship, together with the Downing Professor of Medicine
Downing Professor of Medicine
The Downing Professorship of Medicine was one of the senior professorships in medicine at the University of Cambridge.The chair was founded in 1800 as a bequest of Sir George Downing, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge...
, was severed from the College.
The original electors of the chair were the Archbishop of Canterbury
Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the senior bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group...
, the Archbishop of York
Archbishop of York
The Archbishop of York is a high-ranking cleric in the Church of England, second only to the Archbishop of Canterbury. He is the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of York and metropolitan of the Province of York, which covers the northern portion of England as well as the Isle of Man...
, and the masters of the colleges of Clare
Clare College, Cambridge
Clare College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1326, making it the second-oldest surviving college of the University after Peterhouse. Clare is famous for its chapel choir and for its gardens on "the Backs"...
, St John's
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
and Downing
Downing College, Cambridge
Downing College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college was founded in 1800 and currently has around 650 students.- History :...
.
In 1788 Edward Christian
Edward Christian
Edward Christian was an English judge and law professor, and the older brother of Fletcher Christian, leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty....
, brother of Fletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian
Fletcher Christian was a master's mate on board the Bounty during William Bligh's fateful voyage to Tahiti for breadfruit plants...
, was appointed to the post prior to its official creation 12 years later.
Downing Professors
- Edward ChristianEdward ChristianEdward Christian was an English judge and law professor, and the older brother of Fletcher Christian, leader of the Mutiny on the Bounty....
(1788/1800) - Thomas StarkieThomas StarkieThomas Starkie was an English lawyer and jurist. A talented mathematician in his youth, he especially contributed to the unsuccessful attempts to codify the English criminal law in the nineteenth century.-Early life:...
(1823) - Andrew Amos (1849)
- William Lloyd Birkbeck (1860)
- Frederic William MaitlandFrederic William MaitlandFrederic William Maitland was an English jurist and historian, generally regarded as the modern father of English legal history.-Biography:...
(1888) - Courtney Stanhope Kenny (1907)
- Harold Dexter Hazeltine (1919)
- Emlyn Capel Stewart Wade (1945)
- William Ivor Jennings (1962)
- Richard Meredith Jackson (1966)
- Stanley Alexander de SmithStanley Alexander de SmithStanley Alexander de Smith FBA was an English academic lawyer and author.- Biography :Stanley de Smith was born in London and educated at Southend High School and St Catharine's College, Cambridge ; he received his doctorate from the University of London in 1959...
(1970) - Gareth Hywel Jones (1975)
- John Hamilton BakerJohn Baker (legal historian)Sir John Hamilton Baker, QC, FBA, FRHistS, FBS is an English legal historian. He has been the Downing Professor of the Laws of England at the University of Cambridge since 1988.-Biography:...
(1998) - Sarah Worthington (2011)