William Ventris Field, 1st Baron Field
Encyclopedia
William Ventris Field, 1st Baron Field PC, QC
(21 August 1813 – 23 January 1907) was an English
judge.
. He was educated at King's School, Bruton
, Somerset
shire.
. In 1843, however, he ceased to practise as such, and entered at the Inner Temple
, being called to the Bar
in 1850, after having practised for some time as a special pleader
. He joined the Western circuit, but soon exchanged it for the Midland. He obtained a large business as a junior, and became a Queen's Counsel
and bencher
of his inn in 1864.
As a QC he had an extensive common law
practice, and had for some time been the leader of the Midland circuit, when in February 1875, on the retirement of Mr. Justice Keating, he was raised to the bench as a justice of the queen's bench. Field was considered an excellent puisne
judge of the type that attracts but little public attention. He was a first-rate lawyer, had a good knowledge of commercial matters, great shrewdness and a quick intellect, while he was also painstaking and scrupulously fair.
When the rules of the Supreme Court
1883 came into force in the autumn of that year, Field was so well recognized an authority upon all questions of practice that the Lord Chancellor
Lord Selborne
selected him to sit continuously at Judge's Chambers in order that a consistent practice under the new rules might as far as possible be established. This he did for nearly a year, and his name will always, to a large extent, be associated with the settling of the details of the new procedure, which finally did away with the former elaborate system of special pleading.
In 1890, he retired from the bench and was raised to the peerage
as Baron Field, of Bakeham in the County of Surrey, on 10 April 1890. He had sworn a member of the Privy Council earlier the same year. In the House of Lords
he at first took part, not infrequently, in the hearing of appeals, and notably delivered a carefully reasoned judgment in the case of the Bank of England v. Vagliano Brothers (5 March 1891), in which, with Lord Bramwell
, he differed from the majority of his brother peers. Before long, however, deafness and advancing years rendered his attendances less frequent.
on 23 January 1907, aged 95. As he left no issue the peerage became extinct.
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...
(21 August 1813 – 23 January 1907) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
judge.
Background and education
Field was the fourth son of Thomas Flint Field, of Fielden, BedfordshireBedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. He was educated at King's School, Bruton
King's School, Bruton
King's Bruton is an independent fully co-educational secondary day and boarding school based in Bruton, Somerset, England. It was founded in 1519 by Richard FitzJames, and received royal foundation status around 30 years later in the reign of Edward VI...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
shire.
Legal and judicial career
Field entered the legal profession as a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
. In 1843, however, he ceased to practise as such, and entered 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...
, being 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"...
in 1850, after having practised for some time as a special pleader
Special pleader
A special pleader was a historial legal occupation. The practitioner, or "special pleader" in English law specialised in drafting "pleadings", in modern terminology statements of case.-History:...
. He joined the Western circuit, but soon exchanged it for the Midland. He obtained a large business as a junior, and 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...
and 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 his inn in 1864.
As a QC he had an extensive common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
practice, and had for some time been the leader of the Midland circuit, when in February 1875, on the retirement of Mr. Justice Keating, he was raised to the bench as a justice of the queen's bench. Field was considered an excellent puisne
Puisne
Puisne is a legal term of art used mainly in British English meaning "inferior in rank." It is pronounced like the word puny, and the word, so spelled, has become an ordinary adjective meaning weak or undersized.The judges and barons of the common law courts at...
judge of the type that attracts but little public attention. He was a first-rate lawyer, had a good knowledge of commercial matters, great shrewdness and a quick intellect, while he was also painstaking and scrupulously fair.
When the rules of the Supreme Court
Supreme court
A supreme court is the highest court within the hierarchy of many legal jurisdictions. Other descriptions for such courts include court of last resort, instance court, judgment court, high court, or apex court...
1883 came into force in the autumn of that year, Field was so well recognized an authority upon all questions of practice that 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...
Lord Selborne
Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne
Roundell Palmer, 1st Earl of Selborne PC , was a British lawyer and politician. He served twice as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain.-Background and education:...
selected him to sit continuously at Judge's Chambers in order that a consistent practice under the new rules might as far as possible be established. This he did for nearly a year, and his name will always, to a large extent, be associated with the settling of the details of the new procedure, which finally did away with the former elaborate system of special pleading.
In 1890, he retired from the bench and was raised to the peerage
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
as Baron Field, of Bakeham in the County of Surrey, on 10 April 1890. He had sworn a member of the Privy Council earlier the same year. In 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....
he at first took part, not infrequently, in the hearing of appeals, and notably delivered a carefully reasoned judgment in the case of the Bank of England v. Vagliano Brothers (5 March 1891), in which, with Lord Bramwell
George Wilshere, 1st Baron Bramwell
George William Wilshere Bramwell, 1st Baron Bramwell , was an English judge.-Early years:Bramwell was born in London, the eldest son of George Bramwell, of the banking firm of Dorrien, Magens, Dorrien & Mello. He was educated privately, and at the age of sixteen he entered Dorrien's bank...
, he differed from the majority of his brother peers. Before long, however, deafness and advancing years rendered his attendances less frequent.
Personal life
Lord Field died at BognorBognor
* Bognor Regis* Bognor Regis Town F.C., a football club* Bognor Regis and Littlehampton* Bognor Regis railway station* Alexandra Theatre, Bognor Regis* Bognor Regis Community College* Bognor , a British television series from 1981...
on 23 January 1907, aged 95. As he left no issue the peerage became extinct.