William Banister (judge) facts for kids
Sir William Banister (born 1651 or 1652 – died 1721) was an important British judge. He played a role in the legal system during a time of change in England.
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Who Was Sir William Banister?
Sir William Banister was a respected judge in Britain. He was born in 1651 or 1652 and lived until 1721. His career involved working in the legal system, helping to make decisions in courts.
Early Life and Career
William Banister studied law at a place called the Middle Temple in London. This was a famous school for lawyers. In 1706, he became a "serjeant-at-law," which was a special type of lawyer who could argue cases in the highest courts.
For a few years, he worked as a judge in South Wales. Later, a powerful friend named Lord Chancellor Harcourt helped him get a promotion. In June 1713, William Banister became a Baron of the Exchequer. This meant he was a judge in a very important court that dealt with money matters for the government. At this time, he was also made a knight, so he became "Sir William Banister."
A Change in Government
When King George I came to the throne, there were big changes in the government. The new leader, Lord Chancellor Cowper, wanted to make changes to the court system. He thought Sir William Banister was "not at all qualified" for his job. This was likely because Banister was seen as supporting the old political party (the Tories), and the new government wanted judges who supported their party (the Whigs).
So, on October 14, 1714, Sir William Banister was removed from his position as a judge. This was part of a larger change where many officials were replaced.
His Home and Family
Sir William Banister inherited a large estate in a village called Turkdean in Gloucestershire, England. He owned a lot of land there and in other places too.
He passed away at Turkdean on January 21, 1721, when he was 69 years old. He was buried in the local church, where there is a special memorial for him. In his will, he mentioned his two daughters, Jane Hamilton and Elizabeth. Jane was married to John Hamilton, and Elizabeth was not yet married. They were both from his marriage to his wife, Lady Elizabeth Banister. He also sometimes spelled his last name as Banastre.