Thomas Plumer facts for kids
Sir Thomas Plumer (born 1753, died 1824) was an important British judge and politician. He held two very high positions in the legal system: he was the first Vice-Chancellor of England and later the Master of the Rolls.
Contents
Sir Thomas Plumer's Life and Career
Early Life and Education
Thomas Plumer was the second son of Thomas Plumer, a banker from London. His family also had connections in Yorkshire. He went to school at Eton College, which is a famous school. After that, he studied at University College, Oxford. He was a very good student and earned a special scholarship in law in 1777. He also joined Lincoln's Inn, which is a place where lawyers are trained, and became a lawyer in 1778.
Becoming a Lawyer and Important Cases
In 1781, Plumer started working as a Commissioner in bankruptcy, helping with legal issues when businesses faced financial trouble. He became well-known for defending people in important legal cases. For example, he helped defend Thomas Rumbold in 1783. He was also one of the lawyers who defended Warren Hastings in a big trial. Later, he successfully defended Viscount Melville in his trial in 1806. He also helped the Princess of Wales with her legal matters in the same year.
High Legal Positions
In 1807, Sir Thomas Plumer became the Solicitor General. This is a senior legal advisor to the government. He was also made a knight, which means he received the title "Sir." He then became a Member of Parliament for Downton. In 1812, he was promoted to Attorney General, which is an even higher legal role.
The next year, in 1813, the legal system was reorganized. Sir Thomas Plumer was chosen to become a judge. He took on the new role of Vice-Chancellor of England. This was a very important position. On January 6, 1818, he was appointed Master of the Rolls. This is another very senior judge position, and he served in this role until he passed away on March 24, 1824.
