Charles Gray Round
Encyclopedia
Charles Gray Round was a barrister
and the Conservative member of parliament
(MP) for North Essex
1837-47. He also served as Recorder for Colchester
, and as a magistrate
and Deputy Lieutenant
for Essex
, as well as being a substantial local landowner and notable.
Round was educated at Winchester
then Felsted
(1810-14), and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, with first class honours in classics in 1818 (BA) and 1821 (MA); he was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn
in 1822. Round was always regarded as "a very able and intelligent lawyer", though not an eloquent pleader. He served as Chairman of the Essex Quarter Sessions, a post which he held for twenty years, and as Recorder of Colchester for nearly thirty. Round was also an active magistrate for Essex and a warm supporter of most of the religious societies connected with the Church of England. Politically, he was elected unopposed to become an MP for North Essex in 1837, a seat which he held until 1847, when he stood for the University of Oxford
, but failed to win that, losing to William Ewart Gladstone
.
Round inherited from his father (also Charles) a great deal of land in Colchester, including Birch Hall, which he rebuilt 1843-8 as "a handsome mansion in the plain Ionic order". In the same way he took possession of Colchester Castle
and the accompanying Castle Park, originally under the ownership of Charles Gray
. Round resigned his position as Recorder of Colchester in 1863. In 1838 he married his wife Emma Sarah (1819–1892); together they "promoted religion and education in the parish [of Birch], were diligent in charitable works, and provided some housing for estate workers." Having no children, he was succeeded as owner of Birch Hall by his nephew James Round
. In his will he provided for trustees to build sea defences near Clacton-on-Sea
.
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and the Conservative member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
(MP) for North Essex
North Essex (UK Parliament constituency)
North Essex was a parliamentary constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom between 1997 and 2010...
1837-47. He also served as Recorder for Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
, and as a magistrate
Magistrate
A magistrate is an officer of the state; in modern usage the term usually refers to a judge or prosecutor. This was not always the case; in ancient Rome, a magistratus was one of the highest government officers and possessed both judicial and executive powers. Today, in common law systems, a...
and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
for Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, as well as being a substantial local landowner and notable.
Round was educated at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
then Felsted
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
(1810-14), and graduated from Balliol College, Oxford, with first class honours in classics in 1818 (BA) and 1821 (MA); he was called to the Bar by Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1822. Round was always regarded as "a very able and intelligent lawyer", though not an eloquent pleader. He served as Chairman of the Essex Quarter Sessions, a post which he held for twenty years, and as Recorder of Colchester for nearly thirty. Round was also an active magistrate for Essex and a warm supporter of most of the religious societies connected with the Church of England. Politically, he was elected unopposed to become an MP for North Essex in 1837, a seat which he held until 1847, when he stood for the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, but failed to win that, losing to William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone
William Ewart Gladstone FRS FSS was a British Liberal statesman. In a career lasting over sixty years, he served as Prime Minister four separate times , more than any other person. Gladstone was also Britain's oldest Prime Minister, 84 years old when he resigned for the last time...
.
Round inherited from his father (also Charles) a great deal of land in Colchester, including Birch Hall, which he rebuilt 1843-8 as "a handsome mansion in the plain Ionic order". In the same way he took possession of Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle in Colchester, Essex is an example of a largely complete Norman castle. It is a Grade I listed building.-Construction:At one and a half times the size of the Tower of London's White Tower, Colchester's keep is the largest ever built in Britain and the largest surviving example in...
and the accompanying Castle Park, originally under the ownership of Charles Gray
Charles Gray (MP)
Charles Gray FRS was a lawyer, antiquary and Tory Member of Parliament for Colchester....
. Round resigned his position as Recorder of Colchester in 1863. In 1838 he married his wife Emma Sarah (1819–1892); together they "promoted religion and education in the parish [of Birch], were diligent in charitable works, and provided some housing for estate workers." Having no children, he was succeeded as owner of Birch Hall by his nephew James Round
James Round
James Round JP was an English first-class cricketer and Conservative politician.Round was born at Colchester, the son of Rev. James Thomas Round and his wife Louisa Barlow. His father was Rector of St. Runwald's and St. Nicholas, Colchester, and prebendary of Broomesbury. Round was educated at...
. In his will he provided for trustees to build sea defences near Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea
Clacton-on-Sea is the largest town on the Tendring peninsula, in Essex, England and was founded in 1871. It is a seaside resort that attracted many tourists in the summer months between the 1950s and 1970s, but which like many other British sea-side resorts went into decline as a holiday...
.