Edward Willes (judge)
Encyclopedia
Edward Willes was an English-born judge who became Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer.
, near Leamington. He married Mary Denny of Norfolk and had three children. Sir John Willes
, the long-serving Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
, was his second cousin and is said to have assisted him in his career. Sir John was the father of that Sir Edward Willes who was Solicitor-General
and judge of the Court of King's Bench.
and Recorder of Coventry
. In 1757 he was sent to Ireland as Chief Baron of the Exchequer, no doubt partly through his cousin's influence.
He acquired a reputation as an exceptionally hard-working and conscientious judge, who damaged his health by overwork. He was also an acute and intelligent observer of Irish life, recording his impressions of social and economic life and the legal system in a series of unpublished maunscripts, and also in his letters to the Earl of Warwick
, which have been published. He was particularly concerned by the perennial difficulty of finding enough judges to go on assize, and was unhappy at the usual remedy of appointing serjeants and Law Officers as temporary judges; in his view temporary judges lack independence and do not have the authority to challenge powerful local interests.
Willes' health began to fail, due it was said to overwork; in 1766 he retired to England and died at Newbold Comyn in 1768.
successively for Old Sarum
, Aylesbury
and Leominster
from 1747 to 1768. He became Solicitor-General in 1766; two years later he was appointed a judge of the Court of King's Bench and held that office until his death in January 1787.
Family
He was the son of Edward Willes and was born on the family estate at Newbold ComynNewbold Comyn
Newbold Comyn is a park that is found on the eastern edge of Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. It is described by some people as a country park in all but name.- History :...
, near Leamington. He married Mary Denny of Norfolk and had three children. Sir John Willes
John Willes (judge)
Sir John Willes was an English lawyer and judge who was the longest-serving Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas since the 15th century. He was also a Member of Parliament....
, the long-serving Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, also known as the Common Bench or Common Place, was the second highest common law court in the English legal system until 1880, when it was dissolved. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord...
, was his second cousin and is said to have assisted him in his career. Sir John was the father of that Sir Edward Willes who was Solicitor-General
Solicitor General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law...
and judge of the Court of King's Bench.
Career
He was called to the Bar in 1727, became a serjeant in 1740 and King's Serjeant in 1747; subsequently he became Attorney-General for the Duchy of LancasterDuchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
and Recorder of Coventry
Coventry
Coventry is a city and metropolitan borough in the county of West Midlands in England. Coventry is the 9th largest city in England and the 11th largest in the United Kingdom. It is also the second largest city in the English Midlands, after Birmingham, with a population of 300,848, although...
. In 1757 he was sent to Ireland as Chief Baron of the Exchequer, no doubt partly through his cousin's influence.
He acquired a reputation as an exceptionally hard-working and conscientious judge, who damaged his health by overwork. He was also an acute and intelligent observer of Irish life, recording his impressions of social and economic life and the legal system in a series of unpublished maunscripts, and also in his letters to the Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick
Earl of Warwick is a title that has been created four times in British history and is one of the most prestigious titles in the peerages of the British Isles.-1088 creation:...
, which have been published. He was particularly concerned by the perennial difficulty of finding enough judges to go on assize, and was unhappy at the usual remedy of appointing serjeants and Law Officers as temporary judges; in his view temporary judges lack independence and do not have the authority to challenge powerful local interests.
Willes' health began to fail, due it was said to overwork; in 1766 he retired to England and died at Newbold Comyn in 1768.
Character
Elrington Ball praises Willes as a good lawyer, honest, highly intelligent,a natural scholar and a much-loved figure in private. Hart gives a similar verdict that Willes was an intelligent and sensitive man and an acute observer of Irish society and politics .Against his many good qualities must be set his intolerance of Roman Catholics and determination to resist any reform of the Penal laws; an attitude fully shared by the Lord Chancellor Baron Bowes .Willes wrote that he was opposed to " toleration of that religion which it has been the general policy of England and of Ireland to persecute and depress. "Sir Edward Willes (1723-1787)
The Chief Baron should not be confused with his younger cousin Sir Edward Willes, son of Sir John Willes. The younger Edward was a member of the House of CommonsHouse of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
successively for Old Sarum
Old Sarum
Old Sarum is the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury, in England. The site contains evidence of human habitation as early as 3000 BC. Old Sarum is mentioned in some of the earliest records in the country...
, Aylesbury
Aylesbury
Aylesbury is the county town of Buckinghamshire in South East England. However the town also falls into a geographical region known as the South Midlands an area that ecompasses the north of the South East, and the southern extremities of the East Midlands...
and Leominster
Leominster
Leominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
from 1747 to 1768. He became Solicitor-General in 1766; two years later he was appointed a judge of the Court of King's Bench and held that office until his death in January 1787.