Edward Northey (barrister) facts for kids

Sir Edward Northey (born May 7, 1652 – died August 14, 1723) was an important British lawyer and politician. He lived at Woodcote House in Epsom, Surrey. Sir Edward was a member of the House of Commons, which is like a main part of the British government, from 1710 to 1722.

During his career, he held several important jobs in law. He eventually became the Attorney General for England and Wales, which is the chief legal advisor to the government. Even when a new king, King George I, came to power, Sir Edward stayed important. He did this by not taking sides on big political issues.

Early Life and Education

Edward Northey was born in London in 1652. His father, William Northey, was also a lawyer. Edward was baptized at a church called St Mary-le-Bow.

To prepare for a career in law, Edward went to St Paul's School. Then, in 1668, he started studying at Queen's College, Oxford. He also joined the Middle Temple, which is a professional association for lawyers. He officially became a lawyer in 1674.

For about 15 years, he worked as a private lawyer. He handled several big cases in the House of Lords, which is part of the British Parliament. These cases were about how King James II used his power. In 1687, Edward inherited a lot of money from Lady Wentworth. He married Anne Joliffe in December 1687.

Sir Edward's Legal Career

In 1689, Edward Northey became the chief lawyer for the Duchy of Lancaster. This was an important legal role. People thought he might become the next Solicitor-General in 1693, but he wasn't chosen then.

He later worked on a famous case about a book called Christianity not Mysterious. Edward successfully argued that the book could not be called against religious teachings.

In 1701, King William III made Northey the Attorney General for England and Wales. This is a very high legal position. When Queen Anne became queen the next year, she confirmed his role. She also made him a knight, so he became "Sir Edward Northey."

Sir Edward kept this job for six years. He worked on many important court cases. However, he chose not to get involved in a big trial involving Henry Sacheverell. In 1708, Simon Harcourt took over his role. But Sir Edward got the Attorney General job back in 1710 and held it until 1718.

Sir Edward's Political Career

When Sir Edward got his Attorney General job back in 1710, he was also elected to Parliament. He became a Member of Parliament (MP) for a place called Tiverton. Because he was a top lawyer, he was immediately chosen for various important committees in Parliament. He was re-elected as MP for Tiverton in the 1713 election.

Sir Edward was a mild Tory, which was a political group at the time. He mostly stayed neutral on political issues. This was smart because it allowed him to keep his important jobs when King George I became king in 1714. He did speak out against the Duke of Marlborough in 1712, but otherwise, he didn't take strong sides.

In the 1715 election, Sir Edward was re-elected as MP for Tiverton without anyone running against him. In 1718, Nicholas Lechmere replaced him as Attorney General. Sir Edward then received a yearly payment of £1,500. In 1722, he had trouble with his right hand and resigned from Parliament. He then retired to his home in Epsom.

Private Life and Family

Sir Edward Northey lived at Woodcote House in Epsom, Surrey. He had this house built after he bought the property in 1710. He passed away in Epsom in 1723. He was buried at Epsom Church, where there is a large monument in his honor.

He was survived by his wife, Anne, and their children: William, Edward, Elizabeth, and Rebecca. They also had another daughter named Anne, who died before him. His daughter Rebecca later married Ellerker Bradshaw, who was also a Member of Parliament.