Bartholomew Shower
Encyclopedia
Sir Bartholomew Shower was an English lawyer and politician, Recorder of London and a prominent High Tory.
, on 14 December 1658, the third son of William Shower, merchant, of Exeter, by his wife Dorcas, daughter of John Anthony. John Shower
was his brother. Educated in his native city, Bartholomew came to London early in 1675, entered the Middle Temple
on 9 September 1676, was called to the bar on 21 May 1680, and became known as a pleader.
In 1683 he achieved prominence as an adherent of the court party by publishing a pamphlet against the executed William Russell, Lord Russell
and his partisans. He followed it up in the same year with The Magistracy and Government of England Vindicated. In 1684 he moved from the Temple into Chancery Lane
, and next year was appointed deputy recorder under Sir John Holt. Shower was knighted by James II at Whitehall on 12 May 1687, and was made recorder of London in place of Sir J. Tate on 6 February 1688. He was made bencher of his inn on 25 May in this year, and reader three years later. He signalised himself by his speech for the crown against the seven bishops
in June 1688.
He was replaced as recorder by Sir George Treby in November 1688. After the Glorious Revolution
he became a rancorous opponent of the court, and a political follower of Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
. With the years Shower's Jacobitism
grew more robust. He wrote a bitter squib on the opportunism of William Sherlock
, and he corresponded with George Hickes
the nonjuror
.
In his career as lawyer, he disputed in 1695 the validity of a commitment by secretary of state for high treason in the case of the king v. Thomas Kendall and Richard Roe. In 1696 he was counsel for the defence of Ambrose Rookwood and Peter Cook, both charged with high treason; of Cook and William Snatt, the nonjuring parsons who gave absolution on the scaffold to Sir William Parkyns; and in November he defended Sir John Fenwick, strongly deprecating the proceedings by bill of attainder
, on the ground that if he were acquitted his client would still be liable to proceedings under the common law
. In 1698 he was retained on behalf of the "Old" East India Company
, and successfully screened his political leader, Seymour, from the imputation of bribery. In June 1699 he successfully defended Charles Duncombe against a charge of falsely endorsing exchequer bills, and four months later he was elected treasurer of the Middle Temple. Next month (November 1699) he was counsel for Sir Edward Seymour
against Captain George Kirke, who had fatally wounded the baronet's heir, Popham Seymour-Conway
, in a duel. In 1701 he was ready with advice as to the best means of proceeding against the leading Kentish petitioners.
He was taken ill suddenly at the Temple Church on 2 December 1701, and two days later he died of pleurisy
at his house in Temple Lane. His remains were taken to Pinner Hill, where he had recently acquired a seat, and buried in the chancel of Pinner church, where there was a slab to Shower's memory. Shower states that he was married in Bread Street in 1682 by Samuel Johnson; his wife's name is not recorded.
They were in fact printed from a foul copy which fell into the printer's hands.
Life
He was born in Northgate Street, ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, on 14 December 1658, the third son of William Shower, merchant, of Exeter, by his wife Dorcas, daughter of John Anthony. John Shower
John Shower
-Life:The elder brother of Sir Bartholomew Shower, he was born at Exeter, and baptised on 18 May 1657. His father, William, a wealthy merchant, died about 1661, leaving a widow and four sons. Shower was educated in turn at Exeter, and at Taunton under Matthew Warren....
was his brother. Educated in his native city, Bartholomew came to London early in 1675, entered the 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...
on 9 September 1676, was called to the bar on 21 May 1680, and became known as a pleader.
In 1683 he achieved prominence as an adherent of the court party by publishing a pamphlet against the executed William Russell, Lord Russell
William Russell, Lord Russell
William Russell, Lord Russell was an English politician. He was a leading member of the Country Party, forerunners of the Whigs, who opposed the succession of James II during the reign of Charles II, ultimately resulting in his execution for treason.-Early life and marriage:Russell was the third...
and his partisans. He followed it up in the same year with The Magistracy and Government of England Vindicated. In 1684 he moved from the Temple into Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane is the street which has been the western boundary of the City of London since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster and Camden...
, and next year was appointed deputy recorder under Sir John Holt. Shower was knighted by James II at Whitehall on 12 May 1687, and was made recorder of London in place of Sir J. Tate on 6 February 1688. He was made bencher of his inn on 25 May in this year, and reader three years later. He signalised himself by his speech for the crown against the seven bishops
Seven Bishops
thumb|200px|A portrait of the Seven Bishops.The Seven Bishops of the Church of England were those imprisoned and tried for seditious libel over their opposition to the second Declaration of Indulgence issued by James II in 1688...
in June 1688.
He was replaced as recorder by Sir George Treby in November 1688. After the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
he became a rancorous opponent of the court, and a political follower of Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy, 4th Baronet, MP was a British nobleman, and a Royalist and Tory politician.-Life:...
. With the years Shower's Jacobitism
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
grew more robust. He wrote a bitter squib on the opportunism of William Sherlock
William Sherlock
Not to be confused with William Sherlock William Sherlock was an English church leader.-Life:He was born at Southwark, and was educated at St. Saviour's School and Eton, and then at Peterhouse, Cambridge. In 1669 he became rector of St George's, Botolph Lane, London, and in 1681 he was appointed a...
, and he corresponded with George Hickes
George Hickes
George Hickes was an English divine and scholar.-Biography:Hickes was born at Newsham, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1642...
the nonjuror
Nonjuring schism
The nonjuring schism was a split in the Church of England in the aftermath of the Glorious Revolution of 1688, over whether William of Orange and his wife Mary could legally be recognised as King and Queen of England....
.
In his career as lawyer, he disputed in 1695 the validity of a commitment by secretary of state for high treason in the case of the king v. Thomas Kendall and Richard Roe. In 1696 he was counsel for the defence of Ambrose Rookwood and Peter Cook, both charged with high treason; of Cook and William Snatt, the nonjuring parsons who gave absolution on the scaffold to Sir William Parkyns; and in November he defended Sir John Fenwick, strongly deprecating the proceedings by bill of attainder
Bill of attainder
A bill of attainder is an act of a legislature declaring a person or group of persons guilty of some crime and punishing them without benefit of a judicial trial.-English law:...
, on the ground that if he were acquitted his client would still be liable to proceedings under the common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
. In 1698 he was retained on behalf of the "Old" East India Company
East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
, and successfully screened his political leader, Seymour, from the imputation of bribery. In June 1699 he successfully defended Charles Duncombe against a charge of falsely endorsing exchequer bills, and four months later he was elected treasurer of the Middle Temple. Next month (November 1699) he was counsel for Sir Edward Seymour
Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet
Sir Edward Seymour, of Berry Pomeroy, 4th Baronet, MP was a British nobleman, and a Royalist and Tory politician.-Life:...
against Captain George Kirke, who had fatally wounded the baronet's heir, Popham Seymour-Conway
Popham Seymour-Conway
Popham Seymour-Conway, born Seymour was an Anglo-Irish landowner and rake, the eldest son of Sir Edward Seymour, 4th Baronet by his second marriage to Laetitia Popham, daughter of Alexander Popham....
, in a duel. In 1701 he was ready with advice as to the best means of proceeding against the leading Kentish petitioners.
He was taken ill suddenly at the Temple Church on 2 December 1701, and two days later he died of pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
at his house in Temple Lane. His remains were taken to Pinner Hill, where he had recently acquired a seat, and buried in the chancel of Pinner church, where there was a slab to Shower's memory. Shower states that he was married in Bread Street in 1682 by Samuel Johnson; his wife's name is not recorded.
Works
The Reports printed as Shower's are:- ‘Cases in Parliament resolved and adjudged upon Petitions and Writs of Error’ (1694–8), 1698; 3rd edit. 1740.
- ‘Reports of Cases in King's Bench from 30 Car. II to 6 William III’ (1678–95), London, 1708 and 1720, 2 vols.; 2nd edit. 1794, 2 vols. London.
They were in fact printed from a foul copy which fell into the printer's hands.