John Adolphus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Adolphus
John Adolphus
Born	1768
Died	1845 (aged 76–77)
Nationality	English
Occupation	Lawyer, historian

John Adolphus (1768–1845) was an English barrister and historian. A barrister is a type of lawyer who argues cases in court. He was known for his detailed historical writings and his work in the legal field.

John Adolphus: A Life in Law and History

Early Life and Education

John Adolphus was born on August 7, 1768. His family had German roots. His grandfather was a doctor to Frederick the Great, a famous king. John's father lived in London and was supported by a rich uncle. This uncle paid for John's education.

When John was fifteen, he went to work for his uncle's agent. This agent managed estates in St. Kitts, an island in the Caribbean. After about a year, John returned to London. He then began training to become an attorney. He officially became an attorney in 1790. However, after a few years, he started to focus on writing.

A Career in Law

John Adolphus became friends with Archdeacon William Coxe, a historian. This friendship helped him connect with Henry Addington, who was the prime minister at the time. Addington paid John for his political help, which included writing pamphlets and helping with elections.

In 1807, John became a barrister. This meant he could argue cases in higher courts. He joined the home circuit, which was a group of courts in England. He became very good at handling legal cases. He worked at the Old Bailey, a famous court in London. He became a leading lawyer there for many years.

John was involved in several important court cases. For example, he defended the Cato Street conspirators in 1820. He also worked on other well-known trials later in his career. He continued his legal work until he was nearly 77 years old. He passed away on July 16, 1845.

Writing History and Other Works

John Adolphus wrote many books about history and famous people. His first known book was Biographical Memoirs of the French Revolution (1799). This book showed his strong feelings against the Jacobins, a political group during the French Revolution. He also wrote for a series called British Cabinet (1799). This series featured stories about important English men and women.

In 1802, he published his most important work. It was called History of England from the Accession of George III to the Conclusion of Peace in 1783. This book covered the reign of King George III. It included summaries of debates in Parliament. People praised his work, even in the Edinburgh Review. King George III himself commented on how accurate John's descriptions were.

John continued to write many other books. In 1803, he published a History of France from 1790 to the Peace of Amiens. He also wrote a pamphlet defending the English government's actions against France. Later, he wrote The Political State of the British Empire (1818). This four-volume work described the British Empire, its laws, and its government.

He also wrote about laws in Observations on the Vagrant Act (1824). In 1839, he wrote the Memoirs of John Bannister, a famous actor he knew well. Even in his seventies, John Adolphus started to update his History of England. He was still working on the eighth volume when he died. He also wrote for other publications like the Annual Register and the British Critic.

His Family

In 1793, John Adolphus married Martha Elizabeth Leycester. She came from a good family. They had several children together:

• Moses Joseph Adolphus (born around 1790) who moved to the United States.
• John Leycester Adolphus (1795–1862), who also became a lawyer and writer.
• Susanna Elizabeth Adolphus (born 1795), who died young.
• Martha Emilia 'Emily' Adolphus (1798–1884), who married Andrew Henderson in 1847.

After John's death, his daughter Emily wrote a book about his life. It was called Recollections of the Public Career and Private Life of the Late John Adolphus. It included parts from his personal diaries.