John Rigby (politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Rigby PC (8 January 1834 – 26 July 1903), was a British
judge and Liberal
politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1894.
, and his wife Elizabeth Kendal. He attended Liverpool College before going to Trinity College, Cambridge
in 1853. He graduated as Second Wrangler in 1856, also being placed second for the Smith's Prize
. He became a fellow of Trinity in 1856 and was called to the Bar
at Lincoln's Inn
in 1860.
. He distinguished himself as an advocate, and was frequently involved in bringing appeals to the judicial committee of the House of Lords
. Rigby was twice briefly a Liberal Party
Member of Parliament
. He was elected as MP for the Wisbech division of Cambridgeshire
at the 1885 general election
, but lost the seat when another election was held in 1886
.
In 1892
Rigby returned to parliament, when he was among a number of Liberals who gained seats from the government parties in Scotland
. He was elected at Forfarshire
, unseating the Liberal Unionist, James Barclay
. He was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales
in William Gladstone's new government
, and received a knighthood
on 26 November 1892. On 3 May 1894 Rigby became Attorney General for England and Wales
.
On 19 October 1894 he vacated his Commons seat when he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal
, in succession to Sir Horace Davey. He was sworn of the Privy Council
at the same time. He served on the Court of Appeal until his retirement in 1901.
, London in July 1903.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
judge and Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1894.
Background and education
Rigby was born in Runcorn, Cheshire, the son of Thomas Rigby of Halton, CheshireHalton, Cheshire
Halton, formerly a separate village, is now part of the town of Runcorn, Cheshire, England. The name Halton has been assumed by the Borough of Halton, which includes Runcorn, Widnes and some outlying parishes.-Geography:...
, and his wife Elizabeth Kendal. He attended Liverpool College before going to Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
in 1853. He graduated as Second Wrangler in 1856, also being placed second for the Smith's Prize
Smith's Prize
The Smith's Prize was the name of each of two prizes awarded annually to two research students in theoretical Physics, mathematics and applied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England.- History :...
. He became a fellow of Trinity in 1856 and was called to the Bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
at Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1860.
Legal career
In 1875 Rigby was appointed junior counsel to the Treasury. In 1881 he "took silk", becoming a Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. He distinguished himself as an advocate, and was frequently involved in bringing appeals to the judicial committee of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
. Rigby was twice briefly a Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. He was elected as MP for the Wisbech division of Cambridgeshire
Wisbech (UK Parliament constituency)
Wisbech is a former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituency. It was created upon the abolition of an undivided Cambridgeshire county constituency in 1885 and was itself abolished in 1918.-Boundaries:...
at the 1885 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1885
-Seats summary:-See also:*List of MPs elected in the United Kingdom general election, 1885*Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885–1918*Representation of the People Act 1884*Redistribution of Seats Act 1885-References:...
, but lost the seat when another election was held in 1886
United Kingdom general election, 1886
-Seats summary:-See also:*MPs elected in the UK general election, 1886*The Parliamentary Franchise in the United Kingdom 1885-1918-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987**...
.
In 1892
United Kingdom general election, 1892
The 1892 United Kingdom general election was held from 4 July to 26 July 1892. It saw the Conservatives, led by Lord Salisbury, win the greatest number of seats, but not enough for an overall majority as William Ewart Gladstone's Liberals won many more seats than in the 1886 general election...
Rigby returned to parliament, when he was among a number of Liberals who gained seats from the government parties in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He was elected at Forfarshire
Forfar (UK Parliament constituency)
Forfarshire was a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of Great Britain of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1708 until 1800, and then in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom until 1950....
, unseating the Liberal Unionist, James Barclay
James William Barclay
James William Barclay was a Scottish businessman, farmer and politician. For nineteen years he was member of parliament for Forfarshire....
. He was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales
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...
in William Gladstone's new government
Fourth Gladstone Ministry
-The Cabinet:For a more detailed list, including ministers not in the Cabinet, see Liberal Government 1892-1895....
, and received a knighthood
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
on 26 November 1892. On 3 May 1894 Rigby became Attorney General for England and Wales
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
.
On 19 October 1894 he vacated his Commons seat when he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
, in succession to Sir Horace Davey. He was sworn of the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
at the same time. He served on the Court of Appeal until his retirement in 1901.
Personal life
A few years before his retirement, Rigby had suffered a severe fall, and never fully recovered his health. He died, umarried, at his home at Chelsea EmbankmentChelsea Embankment
Chelsea Embankment is part of the Thames Embankment, a road and walkway along the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England.The western end of Chelsea Embankment, including a stretch of Cheyne Walk, is in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea; the eastern end, including...
, London in July 1903.