Samuel Boteler Bristowe
Encyclopedia
Samuel Boteler Bristowe QC
(5 October 1822 – 5 March 1897) was an English barrister
and Liberal Party
politician from Nottinghamshire
. He sat in the House of Commons from 1870 to 1880, and later became a County Court
Judge, surviving a murder attempt in 1889.
, where he graduated with a B.A.
degree in 1845, receiving his M.A.
in 1848. He was called to the bar in 1849 at the Inner Temple
, and was appointed in 1869 as Recorder
of Newark-on-Trent
.
He became a Queen's Counsel
(QC) in 1872, and was a member of the Council for Legal Education as well as being one of the editors of "Burn's Justice of the Peace".
(MP) for Newark
, at a by-election following the death of the Liberal MP Edward Denison
. After his election, he resigned his post as Recorder of Newark but became a bencher of his inn and Queen's Counsel
in 1872. He was re-elected for Newark at the 1874 general election
, and held the seat until he was defeated at the 1880 general election
.
General elections were then held over a period of several weeks, with different constituencies voting on different days. After his defeat in Newark, Bristowe still had time to be selected a few days later as a Liberal candidate for the Southern division of Nottinghamshire, where he duly stood. However, both of the division's two seats had been held unopposed by the Conservatives
since 1837; no Liberal candidate had stood since 1835. Bristowe polled a poor third, behind the two successful Conservative candidates.
sued someone for the value of a set of teeth. The plaintiff, William Edward Arnemann, who lived in Nottingham, had previously been prosecuted for falsely advertising himself as a dentist. He had brought several similar cases for non-payment, most of which failed because the teeth did not fit. On this occasion, he denounced the ruling, claiming that he was being outlawed.
After court sittings, Bristowe routinely left Nottingham on the 5.40pm Great Northern
train to return to his home at West Hallam
in Derbyshire
, and on this occasion was followed unobserved by Arnemann, who bought a ticket to the same destination and followed the judge onto the platform. When Bristowe went to board his first-class carriage, Arnemann shot him in the back, firing one shot from a full-loaded six-chambered revolver. Bristowe collapsed unconscious, but recovered consciousness before being taken to hospital. The Times newspaper reported that Arnemann said "I have had his blood; I wish I may have killed him".
The bullet was not removed, and remained in Bristowe's body until his death.
His brother, Sir Henry Fox Bristowe, Q.C., was Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Samuel's son, the Rev. Charles John Bristowe, served from 1902 to 1911 as the first Director of Education for Nottinghamshire.
Queen'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...
(5 October 1822 – 5 March 1897) was an English barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and 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...
politician from Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. He sat in the House of Commons from 1870 to 1880, and later became a County Court
County Court
A county court is a court based in or with a jurisdiction covering one or more counties, which are administrative divisions within a country, not to be confused with the medieval system of county courts held by the High Sheriff of each county.-England and Wales:County Court matters can be lodged...
Judge, surviving a murder attempt in 1889.
Early life
Bristowe was the son of Samuel Ellis Bristowe of Beesthorpe Hall, Nottinghamshire and his wife Mary Ann Fox. He was educated at Trinity Hall, CambridgeTrinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, where he graduated with a B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1845, receiving his M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
in 1848. He was called to the bar in 1849 at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, and was appointed in 1869 as Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
.
He became a Queen's Counsel
Queen'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...
(QC) in 1872, and was a member of the Council for Legal Education as well as being one of the editors of "Burn's Justice of the Peace".
Political career
In April 1870, Bristowe was elected as a Member of ParliamentMember 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,...
(MP) for Newark
Newark (UK Parliament constituency)
Newark is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Since 1885, it has elected one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
, at a by-election following the death of the Liberal MP Edward Denison
Edward Denison
Edward Denison was an English philanthropist, known for his self-denying benevolent labours in the East End of London and a Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1868 to 1870....
. After his election, he resigned his post as Recorder of Newark but became a bencher of his inn and Queen's Counsel
Queen'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...
in 1872. He was re-elected for Newark at the 1874 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1874
-Seats summary:-References:* F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
, and held the seat until he was defeated at the 1880 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1880
-Seats summary:-References:*F. W. S. Craig, British Electoral Facts: 1832-1987* British Electoral Facts 1832-1999, compiled and edited by Colin Rallings and Michael Thrasher *...
.
General elections were then held over a period of several weeks, with different constituencies voting on different days. After his defeat in Newark, Bristowe still had time to be selected a few days later as a Liberal candidate for the Southern division of Nottinghamshire, where he duly stood. However, both of the division's two seats had been held unopposed by the Conservatives
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
since 1837; no Liberal candidate had stood since 1835. Bristowe polled a poor third, behind the two successful Conservative candidates.
Judge
After leaving Parliament, Bristowe was a County Court Judge from 1880 to 1891. He was appointed initially to the Midland County Court, where an attempt was made to kill him in 1889. At a sitting of the Nottingham District County Court, Bristowe had dismissed a civil action in which a German manufacturer of false teethDentures
Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and which are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable, however there are many different denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental...
sued someone for the value of a set of teeth. The plaintiff, William Edward Arnemann, who lived in Nottingham, had previously been prosecuted for falsely advertising himself as a dentist. He had brought several similar cases for non-payment, most of which failed because the teeth did not fit. On this occasion, he denounced the ruling, claiming that he was being outlawed.
After court sittings, Bristowe routinely left Nottingham on the 5.40pm Great Northern
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
train to return to his home at West Hallam
West Hallam
West Hallam is a large village close to Ilkeston in the County of Derbyshire in the East Midlands region of England.West Hallam has had its own parish council since 1894 and, since 1974, has been part of the Erewash Borough.-Early history:...
in Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
, and on this occasion was followed unobserved by Arnemann, who bought a ticket to the same destination and followed the judge onto the platform. When Bristowe went to board his first-class carriage, Arnemann shot him in the back, firing one shot from a full-loaded six-chambered revolver. Bristowe collapsed unconscious, but recovered consciousness before being taken to hospital. The Times newspaper reported that Arnemann said "I have had his blood; I wish I may have killed him".
The bullet was not removed, and remained in Bristowe's body until his death.
Family
Bristowe married Albertine Eugenie Elizabeth Lavit, daughter of Jean Jacques Lavit of Paris and Isabella Roper, on 1 July 1856. He lived at Beesthorpe, Nottinghamshire and died at St Leonards on Sea, aged 74.His brother, Sir Henry Fox Bristowe, Q.C., was Vice-Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Samuel's son, the Rev. Charles John Bristowe, served from 1902 to 1911 as the first Director of Education for Nottinghamshire.