Salathiel Lovell facts for kids

Sir Salathiel Lovell (1631 or 1632–1713) was an English judge. He held important legal roles, including being the Recorder of London, a senior lawyer at Gray's Inn, and a Baron of the Exchequer. These were all high positions in the English legal system of his time.

Early Life and Learning

Salathiel Lovell was born in 1631 or 1632. His father, Benjamin Lovell, was a church leader in Lapworth, Warwickshire. His father also supported the Parliament during the English Civil War. He even served under Colonel William Purefoy, who was involved in the trial of King Charles I.

In 1648, Salathiel Lovell began studying law at Gray's Inn, one of England's famous law schools. Before becoming a full lawyer in 1656, he worked as a clerk in Buckinghamshire. He also helped manage local lands in Lapworth.

His Career in Law

By 1661, Lovell had moved to Northampton. He became an important legal expert there and served as the town's Deputy Recorder. He was also active at Gray's Inn, becoming a junior official in 1671 and a member of its main committee in 1677.

Lovell adapted well to the changes after the English Restoration, when the monarchy was brought back. However, some people thought he supported radical Whig ideas. This was because he was linked to a challenge against the idea of the Divine Right of Kings in 1684. In the same year, he defended William Sacheverell, a well-known Whig, who was accused of causing trouble during an election in Nottingham.

In June 1688, Lovell became a serjeant-at-law, a very senior type of lawyer. Four years later, he ran for the position of Recorder of London. He won by a single vote from the Lord Mayor.

On October 22, 1692, he presented a message to King William III at Kensington Palace. He congratulated the King on his return and invited him to a special dinner. After this, Lovell was knighted, earning the title "Sir." In 1695, he was made a King's Serjeant, another high legal role. The next year, he became a judge on the Welsh circuit, which meant he traveled to hear cases in Wales.

Lovell mostly worked on criminal law cases. In 1700, he asked the King for a grant of land. He argued that he had worked harder than anyone else to find and convict criminals. He also said his judge's job only paid £80 a year, which was not much. He hoped it would lead to a bigger judgeship in Westminster Hall.

In June 1700, people expected Lovell to become a Baron of the Exchequer, a high court judge. However, he had to wait until June 17, 1708, when he was 76 years old, to get the position. He had already left his Welsh judgeship the year before and also resigned as Recorder of London.

His Reputation as a Judge

The famous writer Daniel Defoe once wrote about Lovell. Unfortunately for Defoe, Lovell later oversaw a trial where Defoe was found guilty of writing things against the government. Lovell gave Defoe a very harsh sentence: a huge fine, public humiliation in a pillory for days, and an unknown time in prison. Defoe would only be freed if he paid the fine. Since Defoe could not pay, Lovell's sentence was designed to keep him in prison for life.

Lovell also had a reputation for being forgetful. People even nicknamed him "the Obliviscor (forgetter) of London."

Richard Lovell Edgeworth, Lovell's great-grandson, shared a story about Lovell's memory loss. His father told him that a lawyer once rudely told Lovell, "Sir, you have forgotten the law." Lovell supposedly replied, "Young man, I have forgotten more law than you will ever remember."

Notable People Sentenced by Lovell

• Daniel Defoe: A famous writer and journalist. After Defoe was found guilty of writing against the government, Lovell sentenced him to a fine, public humiliation, and prison.
• John Law: A Scottish economist. After Law was found guilty of killing someone in a duel, Lovell sentenced him to death.

Family Life

Lovell married a woman named Mary before 1661. They had ten sons and four daughters. He passed away on May 3, 1713. His tomb is in Harlestone, and his memorial was created by Edward Stanton.

One of his sons, Samuel, also became a judge in Wales. However, only one of Lovell's sons lived longer than him.

Richard Lovell Edgeworth, in his memoirs, shared a funny story about Samuel Lovell: "My grandfather, the Welsh judge, was traveling over the sands near Beaumaris. Night came, and the tide rose. His coach got stuck in quicksand. Water soon filled the coach. His assistant and other helpers climbed out the windows and onto the roof and coach-box. The judge let the water rise to his lips. When his helpers begged him to join them, he calmly replied, 'I will follow your advice, if you can find any past example of a judge climbing onto a coach-box!'"

See also

• William Chaloner