John Strange (English politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Strange KC PC (1696 – 18 May 1754) was a British politician and judge. He was born to another John Strange and his second wife, Mary Plaistowe. He became a student at the Middle Temple
on 11 July 1712 before starting a pupillage
at the chambers
of Charles Salkeld, who trained (among others) Lord Hardwicke
. He was called to the Bar
on 27 October 1718. He married Susan Strong on 14 May 1722; they had two sons and nine daughters, including John Strange
, a noted diplomat and philosopher. In 1725 he represented Lord Macclesfield at his impeachment, and he was made a King's Counsel on 9 February 1736. The same year, he became a Bencher of Middle Temple.
He was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales
on 28 January 1737, and was made a Member of Parliament for West Looe
to allow him to take his position. After the death of the Master of the Rolls
Joseph Jekyll
on 19 August 1738, Strange was invited to succeed him, but declined the offer. He became Recorder of London in November 1739, and on 12 May 1740 he was knighted, along with Dudley Ryder
, the Attorney General for England and Wales
. He resigned as Member of Parliament for West Looe in 1741, but was reelected for Totnes
in a by-election
in 1742.
In December 1742 he resigned as Recorder of London and Solicitor General, claiming il-health, and also limited his practice as a barrister to the Court of King's Bench
. In 1750 Lord Hardwicke
convinced him to become Master of the Rolls
, and he took his position on 11 January. On 17 March he was made a Privy Councillor. He served as master of the Rolls for four years until his death on 18 May 1754 - after his death, his son John Strange published his court reports. He was buried in the Rolls Chapel, as was his successor Sir Thomas Clarke. His epitaph
is
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...
on 11 July 1712 before starting a pupillage
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
at the chambers
Chambers (law)
A judge's chambers, often just called his or her chambers, is the office of a judge.Chambers may also refer to the type of courtroom where motions related to matter of procedure are heard.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :...
of Charles Salkeld, who trained (among others) Lord Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke PC was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 1756 and 1757 until 1762....
. He 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"...
on 27 October 1718. He married Susan Strong on 14 May 1722; they had two sons and nine daughters, including John Strange
John Strange (diplomat)
-Biography:He was the second and only surviving son of Sir John Strange, by his wife Susan, eldest daughter of Edward Strong of Greenwich, was born at Barnet in 1732, and educated privately and at Clare Hall, Cambridge , whence he graduated B.A. in 1753, and M.A. in 1755...
, a noted diplomat and philosopher. In 1725 he represented Lord Macclesfield at his impeachment, and he was made a King's Counsel on 9 February 1736. The same year, he became a Bencher of Middle Temple.
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...
on 28 January 1737, and was made a Member of Parliament for West Looe
West Looe (UK Parliament constituency)
West Looe was a rotten borough represented in the House of Commons of England from 1535 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1797 to 1800, and in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote system of election...
to allow him to take his position. After the death of the Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
Joseph Jekyll
Joseph Jekyll
Sir Joseph Jekyll KS was a British barrister, politician and judge. Born to John Jekyll, he initially attended a seminary before joining the Middle Temple in 1680. Thanks to his association with Lord Somers Jekyll advanced rapidly, becoming Chief Justice of Chester in 1697 and a King's Serjeant in...
on 19 August 1738, Strange was invited to succeed him, but declined the offer. He became Recorder of London in November 1739, and on 12 May 1740 he was knighted, along with Dudley Ryder
Dudley Ryder (judge)
Sir Dudley Ryder was a British politician, judge and diarist.-Career:The son of a draper, Ryder studied at a dissenting academy in Hackney and the University of Edinburgh, Scotland and Leiden University in The Netherlands. He went to the Middle Temple in 1713 and was called to the Bar in 1719...
, the 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...
. He resigned as Member of Parliament for West Looe in 1741, but was reelected for Totnes
Totnes (UK Parliament constituency)
Totnes is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament , using the first-past-the-post voting system....
in a by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
in 1742.
In December 1742 he resigned as Recorder of London and Solicitor General, claiming il-health, and also limited his practice as a barrister to the Court of King's Bench
Court of King's Bench (England)
The Court of King's Bench , formally known as The Court of the King Before the King Himself, was an English court of common law in the English legal system...
. In 1750 Lord Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke
Philip Yorke, 1st Earl of Hardwicke PC was an English lawyer and politician who served as Lord Chancellor. He was a close confidant of the Duke of Newcastle, Prime Minister between 1754 and 1756 and 1757 until 1762....
convinced him to become Master of the Rolls
Master of the Rolls
The Keeper or Master of the Rolls and Records of the Chancery of England, known as the Master of the Rolls, is the second most senior judge in England and Wales, after the Lord Chief Justice. The Master of the Rolls is the presiding officer of the Civil Division of the Court of Appeal...
, and he took his position on 11 January. On 17 March he was made a Privy Councillor. He served as master of the Rolls for four years until his death on 18 May 1754 - after his death, his son John Strange published his court reports. He was buried in the Rolls Chapel, as was his successor Sir Thomas Clarke. His epitaph
Epitaph
An epitaph is a short text honoring a deceased person, strictly speaking that is inscribed on their tombstone or plaque, but also used figuratively. Some are specified by the dead person beforehand, others chosen by those responsible for the burial...
is
Here lies an honest lawyer,—
- that is Strange.