Samuel Browne (judge) facts for kids

Samuel Browne (born around 1598, died 1668) was an important figure in English history. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) during a very turbulent time, the English Civil War. He supported the Parliament against King Charles I.

However, when it came time to put King Charles I on trial and execute him, Samuel Browne disagreed. He and five other judges bravely stepped down from their positions. After the King's son, Charles II, returned to power in 1660 (a time called the Restoration), Browne's loyalty was remembered. He was made a judge in a high court called the Common Pleas.

He became a lawyer in 1623. He was an MP for Clifton-Dartmouth-Hardness in 1640. He helped with the trial of Archbishop Laud in 1644. In 1648, he was one of the people who tried to make peace with King Charles I on the Isle of Wight. He became a senior lawyer (called a serjeant-at-law) in 1648. Later, he was an MP for Bedford in 1659 and for Bedfordshire in 1660. He was knighted and became a judge in 1660.

Samuel Browne's Life Story

Growing Up and Education

Samuel Browne was born around 1598. He was the oldest son of Nicholas Browne, a vicar (a type of priest) from Northamptonshire. His mother was Frances, whose family was connected to Oliver St John, a famous judge during the time of Oliver Cromwell.

Samuel went to Queens' College, Cambridge in 1614. Then, he studied law at Lincoln's Inn starting in 1616. He became a lawyer there in 1623.

Samuel Browne was connected to groups that supported the Parliament's side in the Civil War. He was involved with the Feoffees for Impropriations, a group that helped Puritan preachers. He also worked as a lawyer for the Massachusetts Bay Company, which was involved in settling America. He and other MPs named Browne were very serious about religious freedom in Parliament. They wanted more tolerance for different Protestant beliefs than King Charles I allowed. This led Browne to support fighting the King to achieve this freedom.

His Homes and Land

Samuel Browne inherited some small properties from his father in different parts of England, including London. He also bought a large estate called the manor of Arlesey in Bedfordshire around 1646 or 1649. He lived there even before he officially bought it. In 1644, he complained that soldiers were staying at his home in Arlesey, and he managed to get them removed.

Working in Public Service

Samuel Browne likely served as a local judge (Justice of the Peace) in Essex. He was also named to a commission for managing waterways in Bedfordshire in 1630.

In November 1640, he was elected as a Member of Parliament for Clifton-Dartmouth-Hardness. He didn't seem to have any previous ties to this area. He might have gotten this position because of his cousin, Oliver St John, who was also an MP and a lawyer at the same time as Browne.

In 1643, Browne was suggested to become a judge (Baron of the Exchequer) by Parliament. This was part of peace talks with the King, but nothing came of it. Around the same time, he joined the important Committee of Both Kingdoms. This committee helped Parliament make big decisions during the war. He also joined the Committee for the Preservation of Records. In November 1643, Browne and St. John were given the important job of looking after the new Great Seal of England.

Even though he was a commissioner of the Great Seal, Browne continued his work in Parliament. He was very active in the trial against Archbishop Laud. He presented the case against the Archbishop to the House of Lords in 1644. His speech was very effective in convincing the Lords to agree with the Commons to condemn Laud.

After Laud's trial ended in 1645, Browne helped explain to the House of Lords why Archbishop Laud should be punished. The House of Commons had already voted for this, and the Lords quickly agreed.

In 1645, Browne was chairman of a committee looking into accusations against two other MPs, Denzil Holles and Bulstrode Whitelocke. These accusations were seen as a way to challenge a different political group in Parliament. Browne was thought to favor the accusations, showing he was part of a more advanced political group at the time. The charges were eventually dropped.

In 1646, Browne served on other committees. He stopped being a commissioner of the Great Seal in October 1646. With less work in Parliament, he went back to working as a lawyer.

In 1648, Browne was on the Committee for Scandalous Offences. His time on the Committee of Both Kingdoms also ended. He was sent as one of the people to negotiate with King Charles I on the Isle of Wight. When the King's final offer came back, Parliament thanked the commissioners for their "extraordinary wise management" of the talks.

The next day, October 12, 1648, Browne became a senior lawyer (Serjeant). He and his cousin St. John were also made judges. Browne became a judge of the King's Bench. However, the peace talks with the King failed. When Parliament decided to put King Charles on trial for treason, Browne and five other judges refused to be part of it. They resigned their positions rather than take part in the King's trial.

Browne stayed out of public life until the very end of the time when England had no king (the Interregnum). After the government led by Oliver Cromwell ended, Browne was elected to Parliament again. He represented Bedford in 1659 and Bedfordshire in 1660.

After the King returned to power in 1660 (the Restoration), Samuel Browne was quickly given back his senior lawyer title. Within six months, he was made a judge again. On November 3, 1660, he became a judge of the Common Pleas. On December 4, 1660, he was knighted. He remained a judge until he died on April 11, 1668. He was buried in the church at Arlesey, where he had lived.

Why Samuel Browne Was Famous

Samuel Browne is remembered not just for being a judge, but for how well he managed things in Parliament during the difficult years of the English Civil War. He was known for being honest and fair. People admired his intelligence, his knowledge, and his professional skills. Both moderate and more radical politicians respected him.

His Family

Samuel Browne married Elizabeth, the daughter of John Meade, from Finchingfield, Essex.