Alfred Lawrence, 1st Baron Trevethin
Encyclopedia
Alfred Tristram Lawrence, 1st Baron Trevethin PC
(24 November 1843 – 3 August 1936) was a British lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1921 to 1922.
Lawrence was the eldest son of David Lawrence, a surgeon, of Pontypool
, Monmouthshire
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Morgan Williams. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
, and was called to the Bar, Middle Temple
, in 1869. He established a successful legal practice although he did not become a Queen's Counsel
until 1897. Lawrence was recorder
for the Royal Borough of Windsor
from 1885 to 1904, when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice
(King's Bench Division). He retained this post until April 1921, when, aged 77, he was made Lord Chief Justice of England. He was admitted to the Privy Council
at the same time and in August of the same year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Trevethin, of Blaengawney in the County of Monmouth. However, he only remained Lord Chief Justice until March 1922, when he resigned.
Lord Trevethin married his cousin Jessie Elizabeth, daughter of George Lawrence, in 1875. They had a daughter and four sons, of whom the eldest, Hon. Alfred Clive Lawrence, predeceased his father. Lord Trevethin died in August 1936, aged 92, and was succeeded in the barony by his second son Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Trevor Lawrence. His third son Hon. Geoffrey Lawrence
also became a noted lawyer and was himself raised to the peerage as Baron Oaksey, before succeeding his elder brother in the barony of Trevethin in 1959.
He was a stopgap as Lord Chief Justice. The Prime Minister David Lloyd George
wanted Gordon Hewart to have the post but in the immediate term could not spare him from the House of Commons. On appointment, Lawrence gave Lloyd George a signed but undated letter of resignation. He reputedly learned of his "resignation" when reading a newspaper on a train to London.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(24 November 1843 – 3 August 1936) was a British lawyer and judge. He served as Lord Chief Justice of England from 1921 to 1922.
Lawrence was the eldest son of David Lawrence, a surgeon, of Pontypool
Pontypool
Pontypool is a town of approximately 36,000 people in the county borough of Torfaen, within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire in South Wales....
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
, and Elizabeth, daughter of Charles Morgan Williams. He was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
, and was called to the Bar, Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, in 1869. He established a successful legal practice although he did not become a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
until 1897. Lawrence was recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
for the Royal Borough of Windsor
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead
The Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead is a Royal Borough of Berkshire, in South East England. It became a unitary authority on 1 April 1998.It is home to Windsor Castle, Eton College, Legoland and Ascot Racecourse....
from 1885 to 1904, when he was appointed a Judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
(King's Bench Division). He retained this post until April 1921, when, aged 77, he was made Lord Chief Justice of England. He was admitted to the Privy Council
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
at the same time and in August of the same year he was raised to the peerage as Baron Trevethin, of Blaengawney in the County of Monmouth. However, he only remained Lord Chief Justice until March 1922, when he resigned.
Lord Trevethin married his cousin Jessie Elizabeth, daughter of George Lawrence, in 1875. They had a daughter and four sons, of whom the eldest, Hon. Alfred Clive Lawrence, predeceased his father. Lord Trevethin died in August 1936, aged 92, and was succeeded in the barony by his second son Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Trevor Lawrence. His third son Hon. Geoffrey Lawrence
Geoffrey Lawrence, 1st Baron Oaksey
Geoffrey Lawrence, 3rd Baron Trevethin, 1st Baron Oaksey, DSO, TD, KC, PC was the main British Judge during the Nuremberg trials after World War II, and President of the Judicial group.-Early life:...
also became a noted lawyer and was himself raised to the peerage as Baron Oaksey, before succeeding his elder brother in the barony of Trevethin in 1959.
He was a stopgap as Lord Chief Justice. The Prime Minister David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George
David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd-George of Dwyfor OM, PC was a British Liberal politician and statesman...
wanted Gordon Hewart to have the post but in the immediate term could not spare him from the House of Commons. On appointment, Lawrence gave Lloyd George a signed but undated letter of resignation. He reputedly learned of his "resignation" when reading a newspaper on a train to London.