Richard Aston facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Richard Aston
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Arms, displayed at Lincoln's Inn
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| Born | 1717 Great Britain
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| Died | 1 March 1778 (aged 60–61) Great Britain
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| Occupation | Judge |
Sir Richard Aston (1717 – 1 March 1778) was an important English judge. He held high positions, including King's Counsel and Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland. Sir Richard worked hard to improve how laws were practiced. He especially wanted to change how official accusations (called bills of indictment) were made without talking to witnesses. After his time in Ireland, he joined the court of another famous judge, Lord Mansfield.
Contents
Who Was Sir Richard Aston?
Sir Richard Aston's Family Background
Sir Richard Aston was born in 1717. His father, also named Richard Aston, lived at Wadley House in Littleworth, England. His family had a long history, tracing back to Aston in Cheshire, where they had lived since the time of King Henry II. Sir Richard's mother, Elizabeth, came from Oxfordshire.
Sir Richard Aston's Legal Journey
It's not clear exactly when Sir Richard Aston started working as a lawyer, but his name appeared in legal reports from 1756 to 1758.
- In 1759, he became a King's Counsel, which is a senior lawyer who advises the Crown.
- In 1761, he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in Ireland. This was a very important job in the Irish legal system.
- In 1765, he left his role in Ireland to return to England. He became a judge in the King's Bench court in England and was given the title of Knight.
Key Cases and Legal Reforms
In 1768, Sir Richard Aston joined Lord Mansfield's court. He was involved in several important cases.
- One notable case involved a writer named John Wilkes. Wilkes was accused of publishing writings that were considered harmful to the government. Sir Richard Aston and two other judges found that the charges against Wilkes had technical errors, and the court agreed they were invalid.
- Sir Richard Aston was also known for trying to improve legal practices. He noticed that grand juries (groups of citizens who decide if there's enough evidence for a trial) often made decisions without actually speaking to witnesses. They only looked at written statements.
- His ideas for reform were not popular with many of his colleagues at the time. However, nearly 40 years after his death, a law was passed in 1816 that made it required for witnesses to be examined. This showed that Sir Richard's ideas were ahead of his time.
- In 1777, back in Lord Mansfield's court, Sir Richard Aston helped decide another case involving a writer, John Horne Tooke, who was also accused of publishing harmful writings.
Sir Richard Aston's Personal Life
Sir Richard Aston was described as a straightforward and perhaps a bit blunt man. He was married twice, first to Miss Elred and then to Rebecca Rowland. He passed away in 1778 and did not have any children.
