George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Jeffreys
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| Lord Chancellor | |
| In office 28 September 1685 – December 1688 |
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| Preceded by | The Lord Guilford |
| Succeeded by | In Commission |
| Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench | |
| In office 28 September 1683 – 23 October 1685 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Francis Pemberton |
| Succeeded by | Sir Edward Herbert |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 May 1645 Acton, Wrexham, Wales |
| Died | 18 April 1689 (aged 43) Tower of London, England |
| Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys (born May 15, 1645 – died April 18, 1689) was a famous Welsh judge. He was also known as "the Hanging Judge" because of his strict rulings. He became very important during the time of King James II. He rose to the high position of Lord Chancellor, which was like the chief legal advisor to the King.
Jeffreys was known for making sure the King's rules were followed. This led to him having a reputation for being very harsh and unfair in his judgments.
Contents
Early Life and Education
George Jeffreys was born at Acton Hall in Wrexham, North Wales. He was the sixth son of John and Margaret Jeffreys. His family had a history in law; his grandfather was a Chief Justice. His father was a Royalist during the English Civil War.
George had several notable brothers. Thomas became an English Consul in Spain. William was a vicar, and James had a good career in the church.
George went to Shrewsbury School from 1652 to 1659. He then studied at St Paul's School, London, and Westminster School. In 1662, he attended Trinity College, Cambridge. He left after one year without finishing his degree. In 1663, he began studying law at the Inner Temple.
Starting His Career
Jeffreys started his legal career in 1668. By 1671, he became a Common Serjeant of London. This was a legal officer in the City of London. He wanted to become the Recorder of London, but another lawyer got the job in 1676.
Instead, Jeffreys became the Solicitor General for the Duke of York. The Duke later became King James II. Even though Jeffreys grew up as a Protestant, he gained favor with the Duke, who was Roman Catholic.
Jeffreys was known for his sharp wit in court. He once joked about two brothers who stole lead from a church roof. He said their "zeal for religion" was so great it carried them "to the top of the church."
Becoming a Judge
Jeffreys was knighted in 1677. In 1678, he became the Recorder of London. By 1680, he was Chief Justice of Chester. He also served as a Justice of the Peace for Flintshire.
During the Popish Plot, Jeffreys was a judge in trials where many innocent men were wrongly accused. These men were condemned based on false evidence from Titus Oates. Later, in 1685, Jeffreys helped convict Oates for lying in those same trials.
In 1681, King Charles II made Jeffreys a baronet. Two years later, he became the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales. This was the highest judge in England. He also became a member of the Privy Council, a group of royal advisors.
As Lord Chief Justice, Jeffreys oversaw the trial of Algernon Sidney. Sidney was accused of being involved in the Rye House Plot. Sidney was found guilty and executed. Jeffreys' handling of the trial caused some concern. He ruled that Sidney's own writings could count as a second witness in a treason trial. This was unusual, as two witnesses were normally needed.
Jeffreys was also known for a bold act in Bristol in 1685. He made the city's mayor, who was sitting next to him, stand in the dock. He then fined the mayor £1000 for being a "kidnapping knave." Some traders in Bristol were known for kidnapping people and selling them as slaves.
The Lord Chancellor
When James II became King, he made Jeffreys Lord Chancellor in 1685. This was a very powerful position. Jeffreys was also given the title Baron Jeffreys of Wem. In 1687, he became the Lord Lieutenant of Shropshire and Buckinghamshire. These roles involved representing the King in those areas.
One of his first major trials under King James was that of Titus Oates. Oates was certainly guilty of lying. However, Jeffreys' behavior during the trial was very harsh. The trial became a shouting match between Jeffreys and Oates. Jeffreys and the other judges sentenced Oates to severe whippings. The whippings were so brutal that Oates could have died.
Jeffreys was also criticized for his handling of the trial of Richard Baxter. Baxter was an old and respected clergyman. However, the exact records of this trial are missing. All the stories about it come from Baxter's supporters.
The "Bloody Assizes"
Jeffreys is most famous for his actions after Monmouth's Rebellion in 1685. He was sent to the West Country to hold trials for the captured rebels. These trials became known as the "Bloody Assizes."
Many people were found guilty of treason. Estimates suggest between 160 and 170 people were executed out of 1,381 found guilty. At that time, the law required a death sentence for treason. Jeffreys had to impose these sentences. However, the King had the power to change the sentence. Many believe King James II's refusal to show mercy made the punishments so severe.
One famous case was that of Alice Lisle. She was accused of hiding rebels who had not yet been found guilty. She was not accused of taking part in the rebellion herself. The jury asked if her actions were treasonous, and Jeffreys said yes. She was found guilty and executed by beheading. Some believed the King was getting revenge on her husband, who had been a judge in his own father's trial.
Even though Jeffreys was loyal to the King, he did not like Roman Catholicism. In the last months of King James's rule, Jeffreys joked that "the Virgin Mary is to do all."
President of the Ecclesiastical Commission
As Lord Chancellor, Jeffreys became the head of the Ecclesiastical Commission. King James II set up this group to control the Church of England. Jeffreys had doubts about it, but he still took action against clergy and university professors. These people were considered too Protestant by King James II. The Commission stopped working after the Glorious Revolution.
Where He Lived
After becoming Baron of Wem, Jeffreys lived at Lowe Hall in Wem, Shropshire. He also had Bulstrode Park built for him in 1686.
Family Life
In 1667, George Jeffreys married Sarah Neesham. They had seven children together. Sarah died in 1678. There is a story that Jeffreys wanted to marry a rich merchant's daughter. Sarah, who was a relative of the daughter, helped them communicate. When the merchant found out, he sent Sarah away. George then nobly married Sarah.
In 1679, he married Anne, the daughter of Sir Thomas Bloodworth. She was a widow and was described as a "brisk young widow." She was known for having a strong temper. It was said that she was the only person Jeffreys was afraid of. A popular song joked that Jeffreys had married a "dragon" by mistake.
Fall, Death, and Burial
During the Glorious Revolution, King James II fled England. Jeffreys stayed in London until the very last moment. He was the only high legal official still doing his job. When William III's troops came to London, Jeffreys tried to escape.
He was caught in a public house in Wapping. He was reportedly disguised as a sailor. However, a person he had judged in court recognized him. Jeffreys was very scared of the angry crowd. He begged for protection from the mob, who wanted to show him the "same mercy he had ever shown to others."
He died from kidney disease while imprisoned in the Tower of London on April 18, 1689. He was first buried in the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula in the Tower. In 1692, his body was moved to St Mary Aldermanbury.
During the Blitz in World War II, St Mary Aldermanbury was destroyed by a German air raid. All traces of Jeffreys' tomb were lost. The remains of the church were later moved to the United States.
Descendants
Jeffreys' only son, John, inherited his father's title. John married Charlotte, a daughter of Philip Herbert, 7th Earl of Pembroke. John and Charlotte had one daughter, but no sons. This meant that George Jeffreys' direct male family line ended. However, he does have descendants through his daughter and granddaughters.
John Jeffreys remained loyal to the Stuart family. In 1701, he was one of five peers who voted against the Act of Settlement. This act decided who would inherit the throne. These five peers were supporters of the Stuart family.
His Legacy and Reputation
Jeffreys' reputation today is mixed. Some people say he was a very vengeful man. He had strong disagreements with other lawyers. His strong feelings were often seen during his legal career. He also suffered from a painful kidney disease. This illness may have affected his temper and contributed to his harsh reputation.
Some historians, like G. W. Keeton, argue that the real Jeffreys was different from the harsh judge of legend. Brian Harris, a legal expert, believes that Jeffreys was "no worse, perhaps even a little better than most other judges of his era." This is considering the very strict criminal laws of the time.
In Books and Movies
George Jeffreys has been shown in many films and TV shows:
- Leonard Mudie played him in Captain Blood (1935).
- Patrick Aherne played him in Lorna Doone (1951).
- Michael Kitchen played him in Lorna Doone (2001).
- Christopher Lee played him in The Bloody Judge (1969).
- Elliot Levey played him in Martin's Close (2019).
Images for kids
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St Mary Aldermanbury in 1904
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Black and white oval frame portrait of Jeffreys
See also
In Spanish: George Jeffreys para niños
