Thomas Parker (English judge) facts for kids
Sir Thomas Parker (1695–1784) was an important English judge and lawyer. He was also a member of the Privy Council, a group of advisors to the King or Queen. He held the high position of Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer, which meant he was the main judge in a special court that dealt with government money matters.
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Early Life and Education
Thomas Parker was born around 1695. He was related to Thomas Parker, 1st Earl of Macclesfield, who was a very important judge called the Lord Chancellor. Thomas Parker's family came from a place called Staffordshire in England.
He went to Lichfield Grammar School for his education. After school, he started working in London for a lawyer named Charles Salkeld. Two of his colleagues there, Philip Yorke and John Strange, later became very influential. Philip Yorke, in particular, helped Parker throughout his career.
A Career in Law
Thomas Parker began his official legal training on May 3, 1718, at the Inner Temple, which is one of the famous schools for lawyers in London. He became a lawyer on June 19, 1724.
He quickly rose through the ranks:
- On May 17, 1736, he became a "serjeant-at-law," a special kind of senior lawyer.
- Soon after, on June 4, 1736, he was made a "king's serjeant," meaning he worked directly for the King.
On July 7, 1738, he was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer, which was a judge in the court dealing with royal finances. He then moved to the Court of Common Pleas on April 21, 1740, which handled common legal disputes.
Parker was knighted on November 27, 1742, earning him the title "Sir." Just two days later, on November 29, 1742, he returned to the Court of Exchequer as the Lord Chief Baron. This was the highest judge position in that court. He stayed in this role for a very long time, longer than anyone before him.
Later Life and Retirement
In November 1772, Sir Thomas Parker decided to retire. He received a pension of £2,400 a year, which was a large sum of money back then. On November 20, he was sworn into the Privy Council, becoming an official advisor to the King.
Sir Thomas Parker passed away on December 29, 1784, in South Weald, Essex. He was buried in his family's special burial place at Park Hall, Staffordshire.
His Published Work
In 1776, Sir Thomas Parker published a book called Reports of Revenue Cases, 1743 to 1767. This book contained records of important legal cases about government money that he had worked on between 1743 and 1767.
Family Life
Sir Thomas Parker was married twice:
- His first wife was Anne Whitehall. They had two sons. One of their sons, George, later became the father of Sir William Parker.
- His second wife was Martha Strong. They had two daughters. Their elder daughter, also named Martha, married Sir John Jervis on June 5, 1783. She passed away on February 8, 1816, without having any children.
