John Cowell (jurist) facts for kids
John Cowell (born in 1554, died October 11, 1611) was an important English legal expert. He lived a long time ago, during the reigns of Queen Elizabeth I and King James I.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John Cowell was born in a place called Ernesborough (now Irishborough) in North Devon, England. When he was young, he sang in the Choir of King's College, Cambridge. He then went to Eton College, a famous school. After that, he studied at King's College, Cambridge, where he became a fellow (a senior member of the college).
His Career in Law
John Cowell became a very respected legal scholar. In 1594, he was chosen to be the Regius Professor of Civil Law at Cambridge University. This was a very important job where he taught about law. Later, in 1598, he became the master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge, which meant he was in charge of that college.
His Final Days
John Cowell passed away in Oxford on October 11, 1611. He was buried in the chapel at Trinity Hall, Cambridge.
His Important Books
John Cowell wrote two main books that are still remembered today.
"The Interpreter"
In 1607, John Cowell created a special dictionary for law called The Interpreter. This book explained many legal terms. However, in his book, Cowell wrote that the king had a lot of power, even more than the Parliament. This idea is called the king's prerogative. This made some powerful people, like Sir Edward Coke, very angry. Sir Edward Coke was a leading judge who often disagreed with Cowell. Because of the ideas in his book, Cowell was put on trial by the House of Commons. He was saved from going to prison only because King James I stepped in to help him. Even though he was saved, the House of Commons ordered his book to be burnt. They said that Cowell had gone "out of his element" and made mistakes about the power of the king and the Parliament.
Survival of the Book
Even though many copies of The Interpreter were burned, some survived. These surviving copies were later reprinted. You can still find a copy of the original 1607 book at the Lilly Library in Bloomington, Indiana. The Interpreter was one of the very first dictionaries created specifically for law.
"Institutiones Juris Anglicani"
John Cowell also wrote another book called Institutiones Juris Anglicani. This book was like an English version of ancient Roman law books, written in a style similar to the Roman Emperor Justinian's laws. It also suggested that the laws of Scotland and England might be connected in some ways.
