Sir Edward East, 1st Baronet facts for kids
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Sir Edward Hyde East, 1st Baronet (born September 9, 1764 – died January 8, 1847) was an important figure from Great Britain. He was a Member of Parliament, a writer about law, and a judge in India. He served as the main judge, called chief justice, in Calcutta from 1813 to 1822. He also helped start Hindu College (which is now Hindu School, Kolkata). Sir Edward Hyde East was born in Jamaica. He owned large farms there where people were forced to work.
Contents
Life and Career
Early Life and Law
Edward Hyde East was born in Jamaica on September 9, 1764. His family had been in Jamaica for a long time. His great-grandfather was involved in the English takeover of Jamaica. Edward Hyde East owned several large sugar farms in Jamaica. People were forced to work on these farms without pay.
He later moved to London, England, to study law. He became a lawyer on November 10, 1786. In 1792, he became a Member of Parliament for Great Bedwyn. He was a strong supporter of William Pitt the Younger, who was a very important political leader at the time.
Judge in India
In 1813, Edward East was chosen to be the chief justice of the main court in Fort William, Bengal, India. Before he left England, he was given the title of Knight by the Prince Regent (who later became King George IV).
While in India, he did his job as a judge. He also cared a lot about education for Indian people. He was the main person who helped create the Hindu College. When he retired in 1822, the people in India thanked him. They even raised money to have a statue made of him. This statue, made by Francis Chantrey, was placed in the court building.
Return to England
After returning to the UK, Edward East was given another special title. He became a baronet on April 25, 1823. This meant he was called Sir Edward Hyde East, 1st Baronet.
From 1823 to 1831, he was a Member of Parliament again, this time for Winchester. He also became a member of the Privy Council. This group advises the King or Queen. He helped with legal cases from India. He was also chosen to be a leader at his law school and a member of the Royal Society, a famous group for scientists.
Sir Edward Hyde East passed away at his home in Battersea on January 8, 1847.
His Writings
Edward East is known for his books about law. His most famous work is Reports of Cases in the Court of King's Bench. These books recorded important court cases from 1785 to 1800. They were the first law reports published regularly after each court term. This is why they were called the Term Reports. He continued these reports on his own until 1812. Many American courts often used his reports as a reference.
He also wrote another important book called Pleas of the Crown; or a General Treatise on the Principles and Practice of Criminal Law in 1803. This book took him fifteen years to write. It was based on his own research and other legal cases.
Family Life
Edward East married Jane Isabella Hankey in 1786. She was the daughter of a banker named Joseph Chaplin Hankey. Jane also had brothers who were Members of Parliament. Edward and Jane had one son and one daughter. Their son, James Buller East, took over his father's title after he passed away. Jane passed away three years before her husband.
