William Wynne (lawyer) facts for kids
William Wynne was an important Welsh lawyer and writer who lived a long time ago, from 1692 to 1765. He was known for his legal work and for writing books about law and history.
Contents
William Wynne's Early Life and Education
William was the youngest son of Owen Wynne, who was also a civil servant (someone who worked for the government). William was born in Westminster in 1692. His father passed away when William was young, in 1700. William went to Jesus College, Oxford for his education. He started there in 1709 and earned his first degree (a BA) in 1712. Later, he got his master's degree (an MA) in 1723.
Becoming a Lawyer
After college, William decided to become a lawyer. He joined a special group for lawyers called Middle Temple in 1712. By 1718, he was officially allowed to practice law. William had some family connections that helped him in his legal career. For example, John Wynne, who became a bishop in 1715, was a relative. Also, his father-in-law was a trusted advisor to other bishops.
Important Legal Cases
William Wynne worked on several important legal cases. In 1723, he was one of the lawyers who helped Francis Atterbury, a bishop, with a legal problem. Later, in the 1740s, he also advised Edmund Gibson, who was the Bishop of London, on legal matters. In 1736, William Wynne was given a special title: he became a serjeant-at-law. This was a very respected position for a lawyer at that time.
William Wynne's Writings
William Wynne was also an author. He wrote several books about law and history.
Books by William Wynne
One of his important books was Observations Touching the Dignity and Antiquity of the Degree of Serjeant at Law. He wrote this book in 1756. At the time, the role of serjeants-at-law was being questioned, so his book helped explain how important and old this legal position was. He also wrote The Life of Sir Leoline Jenkins in 1724. For this book, he used old papers that he had inherited from his father.
Later Life and Legacy
William Wynne passed away on May 16, 1765. He was buried in Westminster Abbey a week later. His son, Edward Wynne, also became a lawyer, following in his father's footsteps.
