Edward Northey (barrister)
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Northey was a senior British barrister and politician during the later seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. During his career in the law, Northey filled several senior posts and eventually became Attorney General for England and Wales
, serving in this capacity on two separate occasions. He also sat in parliament, retaining a position of influence following the accession of King George I by remaining neutral on significant political issues.
William Northey and Elizabeth Garrett and baptised at St Mary-le-Bow
in London
. In preparation for a career in the law, Northey was educated at St Paul's School and Queen's College, Oxford, graduating in 1668. Entering the Middle Temple
the same year, Northey was called to the bar in 1674 and remained in private practice for the next 15 years, arguing several significant cases in the House of Lords
relating to King James II
exercise of power.
In 1687, shortly after the death of his father, Northey inherited a substantial amount of money from Lady Wentworth
and married Anne Joliffe, with whom he had one son and two daughters. In 1689, Northey became attorney-general to the Duchy of Lancaster
and was touted as the next solicitor-general
in 1693, although not appointed. He was later involved in the case surrounding John Toland
's work Christianity not Mysterious, arguing successfully that it could not be declared heretical.
In 1701, at the promotion of Thomas Trevor
to be a judge, Northey was made Attorney General for England and Wales
by King William III
and was confirmed the following year on the ascendancy of Queen Anne
, when he was also knighted
. Northey retained the position for the next six years, prosecuting in many trials, including those of David Lindsay
and John Tutchin
, but refused to become involved in the Henry Sacheverell
trial. In 1708, he was replaced by Simon Harcourt
, but regained the post in 1710 and held it until 1718.
In addition to regaining the attorney-generalship, Northey was also elected to parliament in 1710 as Member of Parliament
for Tiverton
. During his time in parliament Northey, politically a mild Tory
remained largely neutral, allowing him to keep his appointments on the accession of King George I
in 1714. He was vocal in his disapproval of the Duke of Marlborough
in 1712, but otherwise remained non-partisan.
In 1718, he was replaced as attorney-general by Nicholas Lechmere
and accepted a pension of £1,500 annually. In 1722, suffering severely from an unidentified paralysing illness, Northey resigned his parliamentary seat and retired to his home in Epsom
. He died there in 1723 and was buried nearby, survived by his wife and children.
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
, serving in this capacity on two separate occasions. He also sat in parliament, retaining a position of influence following the accession of King George I by remaining neutral on significant political issues.
Life
Edward Northey was born in 1652, the son of barristerBarrister
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...
William Northey and Elizabeth Garrett and baptised at St Mary-le-Bow
St Mary-le-Bow
St Mary-le-Bow is an historic church in the City of London, off Cheapside. According to tradition, a true Cockney must be born within earshot of the sound of the church's bells.-Bells:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In preparation for a career in the law, Northey was educated at St Paul's School and Queen's College, Oxford, graduating in 1668. Entering 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...
the same year, Northey was called to the bar in 1674 and remained in private practice for the next 15 years, arguing several significant cases in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
relating to King James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
exercise of power.
In 1687, shortly after the death of his father, Northey inherited a substantial amount of money from Lady Wentworth
Henrietta Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth
Henrietta Maria Wentworth, 6th Baroness Wentworth was an English suo jure peeress.The only child of Thomas Wentworth, 5th Baron Wentworth and his wife, Philadelphia Carey, Henrietta spent her early years at the family home, Toddington Manor, Bedfordshire...
and married Anne Joliffe, with whom he had one son and two daughters. In 1689, Northey became attorney-general to the Duchy of Lancaster
Duchy of Lancaster
The Duchy of Lancaster is one of the two royal duchies in England, the other being the Duchy of Cornwall. It is held in trust for the Sovereign, and is used to provide income for the use of the British monarch...
and was touted as the next solicitor-general
Solicitor General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Solicitor General for England and Wales, often known as the Solicitor General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General, whose duty is to advise the Crown and Cabinet on the law...
in 1693, although not appointed. He was later involved in the case surrounding John Toland
John Toland
John Toland was a rationalist philosopher and freethinker, and occasional satirist, who wrote numerous books and pamphlets on political philosophy and philosophy of religion, which are early expressions of the philosophy of the Age of Enlightenment...
's work Christianity not Mysterious, arguing successfully that it could not be declared heretical.
In 1701, at the promotion of Thomas Trevor
Thomas Trevor, 1st Baron Trevor
Thomas Trevor, 1st Baron Trevor PC was knighted in 1692 as Solicitor General and in 1695 became Attorney-General....
to be a judge, Northey was made Attorney General for England and Wales
Attorney General for England and Wales
Her Majesty's Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known simply as the Attorney General, is one of the Law Officers of the Crown. Along with the subordinate Solicitor General for England and Wales, the Attorney General serves as the chief legal adviser of the Crown and its government in...
by King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
and was confirmed the following year on the ascendancy of Queen Anne
Anne of Great Britain
Anne ascended the thrones of England, Scotland and Ireland on 8 March 1702. On 1 May 1707, under the Act of Union, two of her realms, England and Scotland, were united as a single sovereign state, the Kingdom of Great Britain.Anne's Catholic father, James II and VII, was deposed during the...
, when he was also knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. Northey retained the position for the next six years, prosecuting in many trials, including those of David Lindsay
David Lindsay, 12th Earl of Crawford
David Lindsay, 12th Earl of Crawford, 1577 - 1620 was a Scottish nobleman.David Lindsay was born in Crawford, Lanarkshire, Scotland. He was the son of David Lindsay, 11th Earl of Crawford and Lilias Drummond, Baroness Fyvie. He married Jean Kerr, daughter of Mark Kerr, 1st Earl of Lothian on 16...
and John Tutchin
John Tutchin
John Tutchin was a radical Whig controversialist and gadfly English journalist , whose The Observator and earlier political activism earned him multiple trips before the bar. He was of a Puritan background and held strongly anti-Catholic views.-The Bloody Assizes:In 1685 he wrote Poems on several...
, but refused to become involved in the Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell was an English High Church clergyman and politician.-Early life:The son of Joshua Sacheverell, rector of St Peter's, Marlborough,...
trial. In 1708, he was replaced by Simon Harcourt
Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt
Simon Harcourt, 1st Viscount Harcourt, of Stanton Harcourt, Oxfordshire, PC was Queen Anne's Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. He was her solicitor-general and her commissioner for arranging the union with Scotland...
, but regained the post in 1710 and held it until 1718.
In addition to regaining the attorney-generalship, Northey was also elected to parliament in 1710 as 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,...
for Tiverton
Tiverton (UK Parliament constituency)
Tiverton was a constituency located in east Devon, formerly represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Enfranchised as a parliamentary borough in 1615 and first represented in 1621, it elected two Members of Parliament by the first past the post system of election...
. During his time in parliament Northey, politically a mild Tory
Tory
Toryism is a traditionalist and conservative political philosophy which grew out of the Cavalier faction in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. It is a prominent ideology in the politics of the United Kingdom, but also features in parts of The Commonwealth, particularly in Canada...
remained largely neutral, allowing him to keep his appointments on the accession of King George I
George I of Great Britain
George I was King of Great Britain and Ireland from 1 August 1714 until his death, and ruler of the Duchy and Electorate of Brunswick-Lüneburg in the Holy Roman Empire from 1698....
in 1714. He was vocal in his disapproval of the Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough
John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, Prince of Mindelheim, KG, PC , was an English soldier and statesman whose career spanned the reigns of five monarchs through the late 17th and early 18th centuries...
in 1712, but otherwise remained non-partisan.
In 1718, he was replaced as attorney-general by Nicholas Lechmere
Nicholas Lechmere, 1st Baron Lechmere
Nicholas Lechmere, 1st Baron Lechmere was an English lawyer and politician who served as Attorney-General and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster....
and accepted a pension of £1,500 annually. In 1722, suffering severely from an unidentified paralysing illness, Northey resigned his parliamentary seat and retired to his home in Epsom
Epsom
Epsom is a town in the borough of Epsom and Ewell in Surrey, England. Small parts of Epsom are in the Borough of Reigate and Banstead. The town is located south-south-west of Charing Cross, within the Greater London Urban Area. The town lies on the chalk downland of Epsom Downs.-History:Epsom lies...
. He died there in 1723 and was buried nearby, survived by his wife and children.