William Morton (judge)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Sir William Morton KS (1605 - 23 September 1672) was an English judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons
in 1640 and from 1663 to 1665. He fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War
.
Morton was born in Newcastle, Northumberland, the son of James Morton of Clifton-on-Severn, Worcestershire and his wife Jane Cookes. He was admitted at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
on 30 June 1618 and matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford
in October 1621 aged 15. was awarded BA from Cambridge in 1622. He was admitted at Inner Temple
on 22 October 1622. He received MA in 1625 and was called to the bar on 28 November 1630. beginning his career as a barrister.
In April 1640, Morton was elected Member of Parliament
for Evesham
in the Short Parliament
. After the outbreak of the English Civil War
he became a ferverent supporter of the Royalists, being described at the time as "active and violent...of a high spirit and bold...most obnoxious to the justice of Parliament". Serving as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
and in Lord Chandos's Regiment of Horse, Morton was knighted by Charles I
on 8 September 1643, and later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and made commander of the garrison of Sudeley Castle
. The castle fell on 8 June 1644 after one of his officers betrayed the Royalists, and Morton and 300 of his men were taken to the Tower of London
. On 1 October 1647 he was ordered to be removed to Peter House. He was eventually released, becoming a Bencher
of the Inner Temple on 24 November 1659.
At the Restoration Morton became Serjeant-at-Law
on 6 July 1660, Recorder of Gloucester on 18 April 1662 and King's Serjeant on 1 July 1663. In 1663 he was elected MP for Haverfordwest
, serving on 12 committees, and sat until 1665. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench
under Sir Matthew Hale
from 23 November 1665 until his death on 23 September 1672.
Morton died aged 68 and was buried in the Temple Church
, London on 1 October 1672 where there is a monument.
Morton married Anne Smyth daughter of John Smyth of Kidlington, Oxfordshire.
House of Commons of England
The House of Commons of England was the lower house of the Parliament of England from its development in the 14th century to the union of England and Scotland in 1707, when it was replaced by the House of Commons of Great Britain...
in 1640 and from 1663 to 1665. He fought on the Royalist side in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
.
Morton was born in Newcastle, Northumberland, the son of James Morton of Clifton-on-Severn, Worcestershire and his wife Jane Cookes. He was admitted at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge
Sidney Sussex College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge in England.The college was founded in 1596 and named after its foundress, Frances Sidney, Countess of Sussex. It was from its inception an avowedly Puritan foundation: some good and godlie moniment for the mainteynance...
on 30 June 1618 and matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
in October 1621 aged 15. was awarded BA from Cambridge in 1622. He was admitted at 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...
on 22 October 1622. He received MA in 1625 and was called to the bar on 28 November 1630. beginning his career as a barrister.
In April 1640, Morton was elected 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,...
for Evesham
Evesham (UK Parliament constituency)
Evesham was a parliamentary constituency in Worcestershire which was represented in the British House of Commons. Originally a parliamentary borough consisting of the town of Evesham, it was first represented in 1295...
in the Short Parliament
Short Parliament
The Short Parliament was a Parliament of England that sat from 13 April to 5 May 1640 during the reign of King Charles I of England, so called because it lasted only three weeks....
. After the outbreak of the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
he became a ferverent supporter of the Royalists, being described at the time as "active and violent...of a high spirit and bold...most obnoxious to the justice of Parliament". Serving as High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
High Sheriff of Gloucestershire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Gloucestershire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
and in Lord Chandos's Regiment of Horse, Morton was knighted by Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
on 8 September 1643, and later promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and made commander of the garrison of Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle
Sudeley Castle is a castle located near Winchcombe, Gloucestershire, England. It dates from the 10th century, but the inhabited portion is chiefly Elizabethan. The castle has a notable garden, which is designed and maintained to a very high standard. The chapel, St. Mary's Sudeley, is the burial...
. The castle fell on 8 June 1644 after one of his officers betrayed the Royalists, and Morton and 300 of his men were taken to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. On 1 October 1647 he was ordered to be removed to Peter House. He was eventually released, becoming a Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of the Inner Temple on 24 November 1659.
At the Restoration Morton became Serjeant-at-Law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
on 6 July 1660, Recorder of Gloucester on 18 April 1662 and King's Serjeant on 1 July 1663. In 1663 he was elected MP for Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest (UK Parliament constituency)
Haverfordwest was a parliamentary constituency. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.- History :...
, serving on 12 committees, and sat until 1665. He served as a Justice of the King's Bench
Justice of the King's Bench
Justice of the King's Bench, or Justice of the Queen's Bench during the reign of a female monarch, was a puisne judicial position within the Court of King's Bench, under the Chief Justice. The King's Bench was a court of common law which modern academics argue was founded independently in 1234,...
under Sir Matthew Hale
Matthew Hale (jurist)
Sir Matthew Hale SL was an influential English barrister, judge and jurist most noted for his treatise Historia Placitorum Coronæ, or The History of the Pleas of the Crown. Born to a barrister and his wife, who had both died by the time he was 5, Hale was raised by his father's relative, a strict...
from 23 November 1665 until his death on 23 September 1672.
Morton died aged 68 and was buried in the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
, London on 1 October 1672 where there is a monument.
Morton married Anne Smyth daughter of John Smyth of Kidlington, Oxfordshire.