Robert Eyre facts for kids
Sir Robert Eyre (born in 1666, died on December 28, 1735) was a smart English lawyer and a politician. He was part of a political group called the Whigs. He served in the English and British Parliament from 1698 to 1710. Later, he became a top government lawyer called the Solicitor-General. After that, he became a judge and eventually reached the highest position as the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, which is a very important court.
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Early Life and Becoming a Lawyer
Robert Eyre was the oldest son of Sir Samuel Eyre. His family lived in a place called New House in Wiltshire, England. His mother was Martha Lucy. Robert started studying law at a famous place called Lincoln's Inn in 1683. This was like going to a special university for lawyers. In 1690, he officially became a lawyer, which is called being "called to the bar."
In 1694, Robert married Elizabeth Rudge. Her father was also a Member of Parliament. When his own father, Sir Samuel, passed away in 1698, Robert took over the family's responsibilities.
Sir Robert Eyre's Career in Law and Politics
Robert Eyre started his legal career in Salisbury. He became a deputy legal officer there in 1693 and then the main legal officer, called a Recorder, in 1695. He held this job for the rest of his life.
Serving in Parliament
In 1698, Robert Eyre was chosen to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Salisbury. An MP is someone who represents their town in the government, helping to make laws. He was part of the Whig political group. He was re-elected several times, serving in Parliament through the elections of 1701, 1702, and 1705.
He also became a Recorder for other towns, like Southampton in 1703 and Bristol in 1704. This showed he was a respected legal figure in many places.
Becoming a Top Government Lawyer
Robert Eyre was elected to Parliament again in 1708. From 1708 to 1710, he was appointed Solicitor-General. This is a very important job as one of the government's main lawyers. During this time, he was very involved in a big legal case involving a person named Dr. Sacheverell.
In 1710, Robert Eyre was appointed a judge in the Queen's Bench court. He was also knighted, which means he was given the title "Sir." After becoming a judge, he no longer served in Parliament.
Rising Through the Courts
In 1718, Sir Robert Eyre gave his legal opinion on a disagreement within the royal family. This disagreement was between King George I and his son, the Prince of Wales, about how the prince's children should be educated. Because Sir Robert sided with the Prince of Wales, he was not chosen for a higher judge position at that time.
However, his career continued to advance. In 1723, he became the Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, another important judge role. Then, in 1725, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. This was a very high position in the legal system, and he served in it until he passed away.
Later Life and Family
Sir Robert Eyre's wife, Elizabeth, died in 1724. He passed away at his home in Bloomsbury Square, London, on December 28, 1735. He and Elizabeth had three sons and one daughter. His son, also named Robert, took over the family's affairs after his death.
