John Baker (legal historian)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Hamilton Baker, QC
, FBA
, FRHistS
, FBS
(born 10 April 1944 )is an English legal historian. He has been the Downing Professor of the Laws of England
at the University of Cambridge
since 1988.
, the son of Kenneth Lee Vincent Baker, and Marjorie Baker (née Bagshaw). He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School
, Chelmsford
, and University College London
(LLB/PhD). He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1966 and was elected an Honorary Bencher in 1988.
His first marriage in 1968 was to Veronica Margaret Lloyd, with whom he had two daughters. They were divorced in 1997, and in 2002 he married Fiona Rosalind Holdsworth (née Cantlay), who died in 2005.
His first academic position was as an Assistant Lecturer
in Law at University College London
, in 1965. In 1967 he was promoted to Lecturer, and in 1971 moved to the University of Cambridge
. There he was Librarian of the Squire Law Library until 1973, and remains a Fellow
of St Catharine's College
, where he resides above the Sherlock Library.
In 1973 he became a Lecturer in Law at Cambridge. He was appointed Reader
in English Legal History, at the University of Cambridge in 1983. In 1988 he was appointed Professor
of English Legal History. From 1998 he has been Downing Professor of the Laws of England, Cambridge.
He was President
of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, until 2007 when he was succeeded by Professor
Sir
Christopher Alan Bayly
. He is also Literary Director of the Selden Society
(jointly 1981-199-, sole since 1991).
Appointments have included Visiting Professor, New York University
School of Law since 1988, Visiting Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford
in 1995, Honorary Fellow, Society for Advanced Legal Studies 1998, Corresponding Fellow, American Society for Legal History 1992, and Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2001. He has been a Fellow of the British Academy
since 1984.
Baker was appointed a Fellow of University College London
in 1991, made an honorary LLD of the University of Chicago in 1991, and received the Yorke Prize
(University of Cambridge) 1975, and the Ames Prize (Harvard Law School) in 1985. He was knighted in 2003. In 2004, he was awarded the Irish Legal History Society's Gold Medal.
Interviews with Sir John Baker on ReConstitution, the website of The Constitution Society.
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...
, FBA
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
, FRHistS
Royal Historical Society
The Royal Historical Society was founded in 1868. The premier society in the United Kingdom which promotes and defends the scholarly study of the past, it is based at University College London...
, FBS
Burgon Society
The Burgon Society was founded in 2000 for the study and promotion of academical dress, to preserve its history, and to advise film and television companies and interested others in its correct usage. The President of the society is James P.S. Thomson, MS , DM , FRCS, FBS, Master of London...
(born 10 April 1944 )is an English legal historian. He has been the Downing Professor of the Laws of England
Downing Professor of the Laws of England
The Downing Professorship of the Laws of England is one of the senior professorships in law at the University of Cambridge.The chair was founded in 1800 as a bequest of Sir George Downing, the founder of Downing College, Cambridge. The professorship was originally attached solely to Downing College...
at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
since 1988.
Biography
Baker was born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, the son of Kenneth Lee Vincent Baker, and Marjorie Baker (née Bagshaw). He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School
King Edward VI Grammar School (Chelmsford)
King Edward VI Grammar School, or KEGS, is a British grammar school located in the town of Chelmsford, Essex, England. It takes pupils between the ages of 11 and 18 — from Year 7 to 11 the pupils are exclusively male, although it becomes mixed in the sixth form .The present headteacher is Thomas...
, Chelmsford
Chelmsford
Chelmsford is the county town of Essex, England and the principal settlement of the borough of Chelmsford. It is located in the London commuter belt, approximately northeast of Charing Cross, London, and approximately the same distance from the once provincial Roman capital at Colchester...
, and University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(LLB/PhD). He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1966 and was elected an Honorary Bencher in 1988.
His first marriage in 1968 was to Veronica Margaret Lloyd, with whom he had two daughters. They were divorced in 1997, and in 2002 he married Fiona Rosalind Holdsworth (née Cantlay), who died in 2005.
His first academic position was as an Assistant Lecturer
Lecturer
Lecturer is an academic rank. In the United Kingdom, lecturer is a position at a university or similar institution, often held by academics in their early career stages, who lead research groups and supervise research students, as well as teach...
in Law at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
, in 1965. In 1967 he was promoted to Lecturer, and in 1971 moved to the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. There he was Librarian of the Squire Law Library until 1973, and remains a Fellow
Fellow
A fellow in the broadest sense is someone who is an equal or a comrade. The term fellow is also used to describe a person, particularly by those in the upper social classes. It is most often used in an academic context: a fellow is often part of an elite group of learned people who are awarded...
of St Catharine's College
St Catharine's College, Cambridge
St. Catharine’s College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Founded in 1473, the college is often referred to informally by the nickname "Catz".-History:...
, where he resides above the Sherlock Library.
In 1973 he became a Lecturer in Law at Cambridge. He was appointed Reader
Reader (academic rank)
The title of Reader in the United Kingdom and some universities in the Commonwealth nations like Australia and New Zealand denotes an appointment for a senior academic with a distinguished international reputation in research or scholarship...
in English Legal History, at the University of Cambridge in 1983. In 1988 he was appointed Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of English Legal History. From 1998 he has been Downing Professor of the Laws of England, Cambridge.
He was President
President
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
of St Catharine's College, Cambridge, until 2007 when he was succeeded by Professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
Sir
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Christopher Alan Bayly
Christopher Alan Bayly
Sir Christopher Alan Bayly, FBA, FRSL is a British historian specializing in Indian, British Imperial, and Global History...
. He is also Literary Director of the Selden Society
Selden Society
The Selden Society is the only learned society to be devoted to the study of English legal history.The Society was founded in 1887 by FW Maitland. The main activity of the Society is publishing historical records of English law. Since the society's inception, a volume of interesting and important...
(jointly 1981-199-, sole since 1991).
Appointments have included Visiting Professor, New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
School of Law since 1988, Visiting Fellow, All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
in 1995, Honorary Fellow, Society for Advanced Legal Studies 1998, Corresponding Fellow, American Society for Legal History 1992, and Foreign Honorary Member, American Academy of Arts and Sciences 2001. He has been a Fellow of the British Academy
British Academy
The British Academy is the United Kingdom's national body for the humanities and the social sciences. Its purpose is to inspire, recognise and support excellence in the humanities and social sciences, throughout the UK and internationally, and to champion their role and value.It receives an annual...
since 1984.
Baker was appointed a Fellow of University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
in 1991, made an honorary LLD of the University of Chicago in 1991, and received the Yorke Prize
Yorke Prize
The Yorke Prize is awarded annually by the Faculty of Law at the University of Cambridge for an essay of between 30,000 and 100,000 words on a legal subject, including the history, analysis, administration and reform of law....
(University of Cambridge) 1975, and the Ames Prize (Harvard Law School) in 1985. He was knighted in 2003. In 2004, he was awarded the Irish Legal History Society's Gold Medal.
Publications
- Introduction to English Legal History (1st ed. 1971, 2nd ed. 1979, 3rd ed. 1990, and 4th ed. 2002).
- The Reports of Sir John Spelman [editor] (1977).
- Manual of Law French (1979).
- The Order of Serjeants at Law (1984).
- English Legal MSS in the USA (Part I) (1985).
- The Legal Profession and the Common Law: Historical Essays (1987).
- Sources of English Legal History (coeditor, with S. F. C. Milsom) (1986).
- The Notebook of Sir John Port [editor] (1987).
- Readings and Moots at the Inns of Court (1990).
- English Legal MSS in the USA (Part II) (1990).
- Cases from the Lost Notebooks of Sir James Dyer [editor] (1994).
- Catalogue of English Legal MSS in Cambridge University Library (1996).
- Spelman’s Reading on Quo Warranto [editor] (1997).
- Monuments of Endlesse Labours: English Canonists and Their Work, 1300-1900 (1998).
- Caryll's Reports [editor] (1999).
- The Common Law Tradition: Lawyers, Books, and the Law Tradition (2000).
- The Law's Two Bodies: Some Evidential Problems in English Legal History (2001).
- Readings and moots at the Inns of Court in the fifteenth century (2000).
- Oxford History of the Laws of England, Volume VI: 1483-1558 (2003).
- Reports from the Time of Henry VIII [editor] (2003–04).
- An Inner Temple miscellany : papers reprinted from the Inner Temple yearbook (2004).
See also
- English legal history
Interviews with Sir John Baker on ReConstitution, the website of The Constitution Society.