Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Denman
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| Lord Chief Justice of England Lord High Steward for the trial of: List
The Earl Cardigan
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| In office 1832–1850 |
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| Monarch | |
| Preceded by | The Lord Tenterden |
| Succeeded by | The Lord Campbell |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer Acting |
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| In office 14 November 1834 – 15 December 1834 |
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| Monarch | William IV |
| Prime Minister | The Duke of Wellington (interim) |
| Preceded by | Viscount Althorp |
| Succeeded by | Sir Robert Peel, Bt |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 July 1779 London |
| Died | 26 September 1854 (aged 75) Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire |
| Nationality | English |
| Political party | Whig |
| Spouse |
Theodosia Vevers
(m. 1804; died 1852) |
| Alma mater | St John's College, Cambridge |
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman, PC (23 July 1779 – 26 September 1854) was an English lawyer, judge, and politician. He held the important position of Lord Chief Justice from 1832 to 1850. This role made him the most senior judge in England.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Thomas Denman was born in London on July 23, 1779. His father was Dr. Thomas Denman. When he was four years old, he went to Palgrave Academy in Suffolk. There, his education was overseen by Anna Laetitia Barbauld and her husband.
He later attended Eton and then St John's College, Cambridge. He finished his studies at Cambridge in 1800. In 1806, he became a lawyer at Lincoln's Inn and started working right away.
Legal and Political Career
Thomas Denman quickly became a very successful lawyer. He was known for defending the Luddites, who were textile workers protesting new machines. One of his most famous cases was defending Queen Caroline. His speech in the House of Lords during her trial was very powerful.
His strong words in court upset King George IV. This made it harder for Denman to get promoted in his legal career for a while.
Entering Parliament
In 1818, Denman was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Wareham. He joined the Whig party, which was in opposition at the time. The next year, he became the MP for Nottingham. He represented Nottingham until 1826 and again from 1830 until 1832.
His support for liberal ideas meant he was not given a government job until 1822. That year, he became the Common Serjeant of London for the City of London. In 1830, he was made Attorney General under Lord Grey's government. He was also made a knight on November 24, 1830.
Becoming Lord Chief Justice
Two years later, in 1832, he became the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench. This was a very important judicial role. He also joined the Privy Council shortly after. In 1834, he was given the title Baron Denman, of Dovedale, in the County of Derby. This meant he became a member of the House of Lords.
As a judge, he is remembered for his decision in the case of Stockdale v. Hansard. This case was about the special rights of Parliament. In 1841, he oversaw the trial of the Earl of Cardigan in the House of Lords.
In 1844, he led the judges in the case of O'Connell v the Queen. The judges decided to overturn the conviction of Daniel O'Connell. O'Connell had been found guilty of trying to stir up rebellion. Lord Denman believed O'Connell had not received a fair trial. This showed Denman's strong sense of fairness.
In 1850, he stepped down from his role as Lord Chief Justice and retired. He was also involved with charitable organizations, serving as a Governor of the Charter House and a Vice-President of the Corporation of the Sons of the Clergy. He worked hard to end the slave trade, both through his writings and his decisions as a judge.
Family Life
Lord Denman married Theodosia Anne Vevers in 1804. She was the daughter of Reverend Richard Vevers. His family home in Derbyshire was Middleton Hall, Stoney Middleton.
Lord Denman passed away on September 26, 1854, at Stoke Albany, Northamptonshire, at the age of 75. His oldest son, Thomas, took over his title as the 2nd Baron Denman. Two of his other sons also became notable: Joseph was an officer in the Royal Navy, and George became an MP and a High Court judge.
