Anthony Browne (judge) facts for kids
Sir Anthony Browne (1509–1567) was an important British judge. He was also known as Antony Browne.
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Life as a Lawyer and Judge
Anthony Browne came from a family of lawyers. His father, Sir Wistan Browne, was a barrister, which is a type of lawyer. Three of his uncles were also important lawyers. One of them, Sir Humphrey Browne, was even a judge.
Following his family's path, Anthony Browne joined a famous law school called Middle Temple. He learned from a top legal expert named John Jenour.
In 1545, he became a Member of Parliament, which means he helped make laws for the country. In 1554, he became a senior member at Middle Temple. He was made a Serjeant-at-law in 1555. This was a very high rank for a lawyer. Soon after, he became the Queen's Serjeant, advising the Queen on legal matters.
A Difficult Time
In 1555, during a time of strong religious differences, Browne was involved in a legal case concerning William Hunter. This case led to Hunter's death because of his religious beliefs. This shows how challenging and serious legal roles could be during that period.
On October 5, 1558, Queen Mary I made Browne the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. This was a very important job, leading one of the main courts in England. When Queen Elizabeth I became queen, she kept him in this role for a short time. However, in January, she moved him to a different judge position. This was probably because they had different religious views. It was important for the Queen to have judges who agreed with her on religion.
Later Years and Beliefs
In 1563, there were rumors that he might get an even higher job, but he likely turned it down because of his religious beliefs.
In 1565, he wrote an essay supporting Mary Stuart's claim to the English throne. This essay was later published in a book. He also encouraged another lawyer, Edmund Plowden, to write about Mary's right to the throne.
Even though he had different religious views from Queen Elizabeth, she made him a knight in February 1567. Sir Anthony Browne continued to be a judge until he died on May 16, 1567.
At his death, people described him as a judge with "profound ingenuity and grand eloquence," meaning he was very smart and a great speaker. His funeral followed traditional Catholic ceremonies. Friends were given special gold rings with "Wee dye" on the outside and "Forgett nott" on the inside.
He was buried in St Peter's Church in South Weald. His tomb was damaged later, but you can still see a headless figure of him in his judge's robes. An inscription shows he was 57 when he died.
Family and Legacy
Sir Anthony Browne married Jane, the daughter of William Farrington. They did not have any children. Because of this, he left most of his property to his brother George and some friends.
His most lasting creation is Brentwood School. He founded this school as "The Grammar School of Anthony Browne, Serjeant at the Law, in Brentwood."
Parliamentary Roles
Sir Anthony Browne served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for several areas:
- Lostwithiel in 1545
- Great Bedwyn in 1547
- Preston in March 1553 and October 1553
- Scarborough in April 1554
- Maldon in November 1554
