Christopher Yelverton facts for kids
Sir Christopher Yelverton (born 1536 – died 1612) was an important English judge. He also served as the Speaker of the House of Commons. This means he was the person in charge of leading discussions in the English Parliament.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Christopher Yelverton was the third son of William Yelverton. His family lived in a place called Rougham in Norfolk, England. He started studying at Queens' College, Cambridge, in 1550.
Serving in Parliament: From MP to Speaker
Christopher Yelverton became a MP several times. An MP is a person elected to represent an area in Parliament. He represented different areas like Northamptonshire and Northampton.
In 1597, he was chosen to be the Speaker of the House of Commons. This happened during the time of Queen Elizabeth I. When he was chosen, he humbly said he wasn't good enough for the job. He joked that a Speaker should be tall and have a loud voice, while he was small and quiet.
Despite his jokes, Yelverton was a very good Speaker. He was calm and wise, which helped reduce arguments between Parliament and the Queen. He was known for being a good speaker and for making sure meetings followed fair rules.
His Career as a Lawyer and Judge
Christopher Yelverton had a long and successful legal career.
- He was the main legal officer for Northampton from 1568 to 1599.
- He also served as a Justice of the Peace in Northamptonshire. This role meant he helped keep law and order.
- He became a lawyer and was chosen as the treasurer for Gray's Inn, a famous place where lawyers trained.
- Later, he became a senior lawyer called a "serjeant-at-law."
- From 1602 to 1612, he was a judge in the Court of King's Bench. This was one of the highest courts in England.
Yelverton was known as a very skilled lawyer and a fair judge. He was even praised by important people like Sir Robert Cecil. He helped lead important court cases. He also collected many legal documents and wrote notes about cases.
He was a strong person, even when facing challenges. He was knighted by King James I in 1603.
Why Law is Important
Christopher Yelverton believed strongly in the importance of law. In a speech he gave in 1589, he said that law is a "divine gift" and "the most strong sinew of a commonwealth." He meant that law is like the backbone of a country. He also said that living without rules is "hellish," and ruling without laws is "brutish." He believed that laws contain all wisdom and are more important than any philosophy books.
His Other Interests
Besides his legal work, Christopher Yelverton also enjoyed writing. He helped write plays and shows for Queen Elizabeth I. For example, he helped create "The Misfortunes of Arthur" in 1587. He was known for his lively personality and enjoyed social gatherings.
Family Life
Even though he sometimes complained about not having much money, Christopher Yelverton bought a lot of land. He spent a lot of money on properties in Northamptonshire. Most of these properties went to his son, Henry, after he died.
Christopher Yelverton passed away on October 31, 1612, at the age of 75. He died in his large home in Easton Maudit. He was buried in the church there, where you can still see a monument with his statue.
He was married to Margaret Catesby. They had two sons and four daughters. Margaret's cousin, Robert Catesby, was involved in the famous Gunpowder Plot. Margaret passed away before Christopher did.
Images for kids
-
Sir Christopher Yelverton.
