Francis Hargrave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Francis Hargrave
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Francis Hargrave
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| Born | c. 1741 London
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| Died | 1821 |
| Occupation | Lawyer |
| Known for | Antiquary, Legal historian |
Francis Hargrave (born around 1741, died 1821) was an important English lawyer and expert on old laws. He became famous for helping a man named James Somersett in a very important court case in 1772. This case helped decide that slavery was not legal in England. Even though it was his first big case, Francis Hargrave's hard work made him well-known.
Contents
The Early Life of Francis Hargrave
Francis Hargrave was born in London, England. His father, Christopher Hargrave, worked near Chancery Lane, a famous area for lawyers. In 1760, Francis began studying law at Lincoln's Inn, a well-known place for training lawyers.
A Famous Court Case: Somersett's Freedom
Francis Hargrave became famous in 1772 because of his work on Somersett's Case. This case was about James Somersett, an enslaved person who had been brought to England. Hargrave was one of five lawyers who argued for Somersett's freedom. Their efforts led to a landmark decision: slavery was not allowed in England.
Soon after this important case, Hargrave was made a King's Counsel. This meant he was a senior lawyer chosen to advise the Crown. After this, he focused on studying legal history and writing about laws. He did not continue to be directly involved in the movement to end slavery, known as the abolitionist campaign.
Later Career and Legal Contributions
In 1797, Francis Hargrave became the Recorder of Liverpool. This was a judge who oversaw legal matters in the city. For many years, he also served as the treasurer of Lincoln's Inn. He was a leading lawyer who worked on cases related to Parliament.
Hargrave also continued a famous collection of court case records called "State Trials." This collection had been started by other historians. He helped expand it, making it even more complete.
Hargrave's Legal Collection
In 1813, Francis Hargrave became ill. The government bought his huge collection of legal books and old papers for £8,000. This valuable collection was then placed in the British Museum for everyone to study.
Francis Hargrave passed away in 1821. He was buried in the chapel at Lincoln's Inn, the place where he had studied law many years before.
Francis Hargrave's Published Works
Francis Hargrave wrote many books about legal history. He also gathered a very large collection of legal books and old handwritten documents. His writings helped people understand old laws and important court cases.
Some of his notable works include:
- An Argument in the case of James Sommersett, a Negro, published in 1772. This book explained his arguments in the famous Somersett's case.
- State Trials from Henry IV to 19 George III, a large collection of court cases published in 1776.
- A Collection of Tracts relative to the Law of England, published in 1787. This included old legal writings from famous lawyers.
- Collectanea Juridica, a two-volume work from 1791–1792, which included important legal papers.
A detailed list of his collected manuscripts was put together by Sir Henry Ellis and published in 1818.
