John Walter (jurist)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Walter was an English judge and Member of Parliament
.
Walter was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford
and the Inner Temple
. He was called to the bar in 1590 and became a bencher
of his inn in 1605. He practised in the Exchequer
and Chancery
courts, becoming counsel to Oxford University, and in 1613 was appointed attorney general and trustee to the Prince of Wales
.
He was knighted in 1619, and in 1621 was elected to Parliament as member for East Looe
. In 1625 he was appointed Chief Baron
of the court of the Exchequer. Having opposed Charles I
over the law of treason, in 1630 he was ordered not to sit again as a judge.
He married, firstly, Margaret Offley, daughter of William Offley, and they had two children:
After the death of his first wife he was remarried, in 1622, to Anne Witham, daughter of William Witham.
He died on 17 November 1630 and was buried at Wolvercote
in Oxfordshire
.
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,...
.
Walter was educated at Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
and the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
. He was called to the bar in 1590 and became a bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of his inn in 1605. He practised in the Exchequer
Exchequer
The Exchequer is a government department of the United Kingdom responsible for the management and collection of taxation and other government revenues. The historical Exchequer developed judicial roles...
and Chancery
Court of Chancery
The Court of Chancery was a court of equity in England and Wales that followed a set of loose rules to avoid the slow pace of change and possible harshness of the common law. The Chancery had jurisdiction over all matters of equity, including trusts, land law, the administration of the estates of...
courts, becoming counsel to Oxford University, and in 1613 was appointed attorney general and trustee to the Prince of Wales
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
.
He was knighted in 1619, and in 1621 was elected to Parliament as member for East Looe
East Looe (UK Parliament constituency)
East Looe was a parliamentary borough represented in the House of Commons of England from 1571 to 1707, in the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1797 to 1800, and finally in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom from 1801 until its abolition in 1832. It elected two Members of Parliament ...
. In 1625 he was appointed Chief Baron
Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
The Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first "baron" of the English Exchequer of pleas. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e...
of the court of the Exchequer. Having opposed Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
over the law of treason, in 1630 he was ordered not to sit again as a judge.
He married, firstly, Margaret Offley, daughter of William Offley, and they had two children:
- Sir William Walter, 1st Baronet (c. 1604-1675)
- Elizabeth Walter (1613-1701), who married Sir Francis Burdett.
After the death of his first wife he was remarried, in 1622, to Anne Witham, daughter of William Witham.
He died on 17 November 1630 and was buried at Wolvercote
Wolvercote
Wolvercote is a village that is part of the City of Oxford, England, though still retaining its own identity. It is about northwest of the centre of Oxford, on the northern edge of Wolvercote Common, which is itself north of Port Meadow.-History:The village is listed in the Domesday Book as...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
.