Francis Plowden (barrister)
Encyclopedia
Francis Plowden was an English Jesuit, barrister and writer.
in 1766.
When the Society was suppressed
, he was teaching at the College at Bruges
. Not being in holy orders
he was, by the terms of suppression, relieved of his first vows, and soon afterwards married Dorothea, daughter of George Phillips of Carnarvonshire.
He entered the Middle Temple
and practiced as a conveyancer
, the only department of the legal profession open to Catholics under the Penal Laws. After the relief Act of 1791 he was called to the Bar. His first major work, Jura Anglorum, appeared in 1792, a conservative formulation of natural rights and contract theory. It was attacked in a pamphlet by his brother Robert Plowden
, a priest under the title of "A Roman Catholic Clergyman". The book was so highly thought of that the University of Oxford
presented him with the honorary degree of D.C.L., a unique distinction for a Catholic of those days.
His improvidence, extreme views, and intractable disposition made his life a troubled one. Having fallen out with the Lord Chancellor
, he ceased to practice at the bar and devoted himself to writing. While in Dublin (1811) he published his work "Ireland since the Union" which lead to a prosecution on the part of the Government for libel, resulting in a verdict of £5000 damages. Plowden considered that this was rewarded by a packed jury and determined not to pay it. He escaped to Paris
where he spent the remaining years of his life in comparative poverty as a professor at the Scots College
.
in the Historical Review and also by the British Critic
. Plowden answered by a Posthumous Preface giving an account of his communications with Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
, and also by a Historical Letter to Sir Richard Musgrave.
His Historical Letters to Sir John Coxe Hippisley
(1815) contained matter connected with the question of Catholic emancipation
. His other works are:
Life
He was the son of William Plowden of Plowden Hall. He was educated at St. Omer's College and entered the Jesuit novitiate at WattenWatten, Nord
-Sights:The village is famous for its old ruined abbey, and for its mill, which was restored in the 1990s. These two buildings are located on the "Mountain of Watten" . Its church dates from the thirteenth century.-References:* *...
in 1766.
When the Society was suppressed
Suppression of the Jesuits
The Suppression of the Jesuits in the Portuguese Empire, France, the Two Sicilies, Parma and the Spanish Empire by 1767 was a result of a series of political moves rather than a theological controversy. By the brief Dominus ac Redemptor Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus...
, he was teaching at the College at Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
. Not being in holy orders
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
he was, by the terms of suppression, relieved of his first vows, and soon afterwards married Dorothea, daughter of George Phillips of Carnarvonshire.
He entered the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
and practiced as a conveyancer
Conveyancer
In Commonwealth countries, a conveyancer is a specialist lawyer who specialises in the legal aspects of buying and selling real property, or conveyancing. A conveyancer can also be a solicitor, licensed conveyancer, or a fellow of the Institute of Legal Executives.In the United Kingdom,...
, the only department of the legal profession open to Catholics under the Penal Laws. After the relief Act of 1791 he was called to the Bar. His first major work, Jura Anglorum, appeared in 1792, a conservative formulation of natural rights and contract theory. It was attacked in a pamphlet by his brother Robert Plowden
Robert Plowden
Robert Plowden was an English Jesuit priest, a firm supporter of Bishop John Milner.-Life:He entered the Society of Jesus in 1756, and was ordained in 1763...
, a priest under the title of "A Roman Catholic Clergyman". The book was so highly thought of that the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
presented him with the honorary degree of D.C.L., a unique distinction for a Catholic of those days.
His improvidence, extreme views, and intractable disposition made his life a troubled one. Having fallen out with the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, he ceased to practice at the bar and devoted himself to writing. While in Dublin (1811) he published his work "Ireland since the Union" which lead to a prosecution on the part of the Government for libel, resulting in a verdict of £5000 damages. Plowden considered that this was rewarded by a packed jury and determined not to pay it. He escaped to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
where he spent the remaining years of his life in comparative poverty as a professor at the Scots College
Scots College (Paris)
The Scots College was a college of the University of Paris, France, founded by an Act of the Parlement of Paris on 8 July 1333. The act was a ratification of an event that had already taken place, the founding of the Collegium Scoticum, one of a number of national colleges into which the...
.
Works
His Historical Review of the state of Ireland (1803) was written at the request of the Government; but it was too outspoken a condemnation to meet their views, and was attacked by Richard MusgraveRichard Musgrave
Richard Abel Musgrave was an American economist of German heritage. His most cited work is The Theory of Public Finance , described as "the first English-language treatise in the field."-Life:...
in the Historical Review and also by the British Critic
British Critic
The British Critic: A New Review was a quarterly publication, established in 1793 as a conservative and high church review journal riding the tide of British reaction against the French Revolution.-High church review:...
. Plowden answered by a Posthumous Preface giving an account of his communications with Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth
Henry Addington, 1st Viscount Sidmouth, PC was a British statesman, and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1804....
, and also by a Historical Letter to Sir Richard Musgrave.
His Historical Letters to Sir John Coxe Hippisley
John Coxe Hippisley
Sir John Coxe Hippisley, 1st Baronet , was a British diplomat and politician who pursued an ‘unflagging, though wholly unsuccessful, quest for office’ which led King George III of Great Britain to describe him as ‘that busy man’ and ‘the grand intriguer’.-Early life and overseas appointments:Born...
(1815) contained matter connected with the question of Catholic emancipation
Catholic Emancipation
Catholic emancipation or Catholic relief was a process in Great Britain and Ireland in the late 18th century and early 19th century which involved reducing and removing many of the restrictions on Roman Catholics which had been introduced by the Act of Uniformity, the Test Acts and the penal laws...
. His other works are:
- The Case Stated (Cath. Relief Act, 1791);
- Church and State (London, 1794);
- Treatise on the Law of Usury (London, 1796);
- The Constitution of the United Kingdom (London, 1802);
- Historical Letters to Rev. C. O'Connor (Dublin, 1812);
- Human Subordination (Paris, 1824).