William de Grey, 1st Baron Walsingham facts for kids
William de Grey, 1st Baron Walsingham (born July 7, 1719 – died May 9, 1781) was an important British lawyer, judge, and politician. He held a very high position as the top judge for common legal cases, called the Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, from 1771 to 1780.
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William de Grey was born into a well-known family in Norfolk, England. His family had lived there since the 1300s. He was the third son of Thomas de Grey, who was also a Member of Parliament.
William studied law at Trinity Hall, Cambridge University. After finishing his studies, he became a lawyer in 1742. He quickly became a successful lawyer, and in 1758, he was recognized as a "King's Counsel," which meant he was a top lawyer chosen to advise the Crown. From 1761 to 1763, he worked as a legal advisor for Queen Charlotte.
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William de Grey's Political Career
William de Grey became a Member of Parliament (MP) in 1761, representing a place called Newport, Cornwall. He held this seat until 1770. After that, he represented Cambridge University in Parliament for a short time, from 1770 to 1771.
Working for the Government
During his time in Parliament, William de Grey held several important jobs in the government.
- Solicitor-General: From 1763 to 1766, he served as the Solicitor-General. This role meant he was one of the main legal advisors to the government. He worked under leaders like George Grenville and Lord Rockingham.
- Attorney-General: From 1766 to 1771, he became the Attorney-General. This was an even higher legal position, where he was the chief legal officer for the Crown. He served under important figures such as William Pitt the Elder, the Duke of Grafton, and Lord North.
One notable case during his time as Attorney-General involved a writer named Henry Sampson Woodfall. The government believed Woodfall had published something that was against the law. However, the jury did not agree, and the case ended without a clear decision.
Becoming a Judge and Baron
In 1771, William de Grey was appointed to a very important judicial role: Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. This meant he was the head judge for many common law cases in England. He held this position for nine years, until 1780.
He had been knighted in 1766, which meant he was given the title "Sir." When he retired in 1780 because of poor health, he was given an even higher honor. He was made a Baron, which is a type of noble title. He became known as Baron Walsingham, named after a place in Walsingham in Norfolk.
Family Life
Lord Walsingham married Mary Cowper in 1743. They had one son and one daughter.
He passed away in May 1781, at the age of 61. His only son, Thomas, inherited his title and became the 2nd Baron Walsingham. Lady Walsingham, his wife, died later in 1800.
Notable Legal Cases
As a judge, William de Grey was involved in several important legal cases. These cases helped shape how the law was understood and applied at the time.
- Rex v Woodfall, 1770
- Scott v. Shepherd 96 Eng. Rep. 525 (K.B. 1773)
- Grace v Smith [1775]
