John Savile (died 1607) facts for kids

Sir John Savile (1546–1607) was an important English lawyer and judge. He was known for his work in the courts and his support for common law. He also served as a Member of Parliament.

Early Life and Education

John Savile was born in 1546. His father was Henry Savile from Bradley, a place near Stainland in Yorkshire. John had two younger brothers, Sir Henry Savile and Thomas Savile.

He started studying at Brasenose College, Oxford, in 1561. However, he didn't finish his degree there. In 1563, a serious illness called the plague spread. To stay safe, John went back to his home in Bradley. While there, he spent his time studying law books on his own. This helped him learn a lot about the law.

Career in Law and Politics

John Savile later joined the Middle Temple, which is one of the four main legal societies in London where lawyers are trained. In 1586, he became an "autumn reader" there. This meant he was chosen to give lectures and teach law to other students.

In 1572, John Savile was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newton, Lancashire. This role meant he helped make laws and represent people in the government. He was good friends with other important people in Parliament, like William Fleetwood and Henry Gates.

Savile worked as a lawyer in the exchequer court. This court handled cases about money and taxes for the government. In 1594, he became a "serjeant-at-law". This was a very high rank for a lawyer at the time.

In 1598, he was made a "baron of the exchequer," which is a type of judge in that court. This happened because Lord Burghley, a powerful advisor to the Queen, recommended him. A year later, in 1599, he was part of a group tasked with stopping heresy, which meant beliefs that went against the official church.

King James I made him a knight on July 25, 1603. This gave him the title "Sir." In 1604, he became the chief judge for the county palatine of Lancaster, an important region in England.

Later Years and Legacy

In November 1606, Sir John Savile was one of the judges who decided that the king could charge special taxes on goods coming into or leaving the country. This was called a "royal prerogative" (a special power of the king). However, throughout his career, Savile had often supported the "common law" courts. These courts followed older laws and customs, and sometimes disagreed with the king's special powers.

Sir John Savile passed away on February 2, 1607. He was buried in a church called St. Dunstan's-in-the-West in London. However, his heart was taken to Methley in Yorkshire, where a special monument was put up in his memory.

Like other members of his family, Savile was a friend of William Camden, a famous historian. He even hosted Camden at his home in Bradley in 1599. Sir John Savile was also one of the first members of the College of Antiquaries. This was a group of people who studied old things and history.

Published Work

Sir John Savile's only published work is a collection of "Reports." These were records of cases that were heard in the exchequer court. The collection was put together and published in 1675 by John Richardson, after Savile had passed away.

Family Life

Sir John Savile was married four times during his life:

• His first wife was Jane Garth. They had a son named Henry and two daughters.
• His second wife was Elizabeth Wentworth. They had a son named John (who died in 1651). This son, John, later inherited from his half-brother Henry. John's great-grandson was John Savile, 1st Earl of Mexborough.
• His third wife was Dorothy Wentworth. She had been married before to Sir W. Widmerpoole and then to Sir Martin Frobisher, a famous explorer.
• His fourth wife was Margery Peake. She had also been married before to Sir Jerome Weston.

Sir John Savile did not have any children with his last two wives.