William Foxwist facts for kids
William Foxwist (born around 1610, died possibly 1673) was an important Welsh judge and politician. He served in the English Parliament several times between 1647 and 1660.
Early Life and Education
William Foxwist was born in 1610 in Caernarvon, Wales. His father was Richard Foxwist, and his mother was Ellen Thomas.
When he was 17, William started studying at Jesus College, Oxford on January 25, 1628. After his studies, he decided to become a lawyer. He joined a famous legal society called Lincoln's Inn in 1636. By 1645, he had become a qualified lawyer. In the same year, he also became a Recorder for St Albans, which meant he was a judge who helped manage the local court.
A Career in Law and Politics
In 1646, William Foxwist became a judge for sea-related cases in North Wales. The next year, in 1647, he was elected to be a Member of Parliament (MP) for Carnarvon. This meant he represented the people of Carnarvon in the English government. However, he was removed from Parliament in 1648 during a political event known as Pride's Purge.
Even after being removed from Parliament, he continued his legal career. In 1649, he became a senior member of his law society, Lincoln's Inn.
He returned to Parliament in 1654, this time representing Anglesey in the First Protectorate Parliament. From 1655 to 1659, he worked as a junior judge on the Brecknock circuit, which was a court that traveled to different places.
In 1659, he was elected as an MP again, this time for Swansea. In 1660, he became a legal officer for the Chester circuit. In the same year, he was elected MP for St Albans in a special Parliament called the Convention Parliament. William Foxwist was known as someone who supported the Parliament during a time of conflict in England.
Later Life
The exact date of William Foxwist's death is not known. However, his will, which is a legal document about his wishes after death, was written and approved in 1673. This suggests he likely passed away around that time.
William Foxwist was married to Mary Pemberton, who was the daughter of John Pemberton from St Albans.
