Robert Collier, 1st Baron Monkswell
Encyclopedia
Robert Porrett Collier, 1st Baron Monkswell (21 June 1817 – 27 October 1886) was an English lawyer, politician and judge.
.
, but Collier ultimately procured their escape upon a point of law which the judge had refused to reserve. He was elected member of parliament
for Plymouth
in the Liberal
interest in 1852, and in 1859 was appointed counsel to the Admiralty
and Judge-Advocate of the Fleet
. In this capacity, he gave in 1862 an opinion in favor of detaining the Confederate rams building in the Mersey, which would have saved his country much money and much credit if it had been acted upon. In 1863, he became Solicitor-General
, and in 1868 Attorney-General
, and in 1869 successfully passed a bankruptcy bill.
In 1871 Collier was appointed by Gladstone
one of four new judges upon the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
, although it was expressly provided by the act creating these offices that none of them should be filled by a law-officer of the Crown. This prohibition was evaded by making Collier a judge of Common Pleas
and transferring him after a few days to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. This arrangement was unanimously condemned by public opinion, and gave the Gladstone cabinet a serious blow. He officiated, nevertheless, with distinction until his death, and was raised to the peerage as Baron Monkswell in 1885.
Lord Monkswell was a distinguished amateur painter, frequently exhibiting landscapes at the Royal Academy
and elsewhere. In his younger days he had been noted as a clever caricaturist. Collier was married to Isabella Rose, daughter of William Rose. They had two sons. His elder son, Robert
, after taking a first class degree in law at Cambridge
, went to the bar, and became (1871) conveyancing counsel to the treasury, and (1885-1886) an official examiner of the High Court, and, taking to politics as a Liberal, Under-Secretary of State for War
(1895). His younger son, John Collier
, inherited his father's artistic tastes, and became a well-known painter. Monkswell died in 1886 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
, London. Lady Monkswell died 10 April 1886, and is also buried in Brompton Cemetery. He was succeeded in the peerage by his elder son, Robert Collier.
(1873), L.R. 4 P.C. 599, [1873] UKPC 26 (P.C.).
Background and education
Collier was the son of a prominent merchant of Quaker extraction. He was educated at OxfordUniversity 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...
.
Career
Collier was called to the bar in 1843, and went on the western circuit. He obtained a high reputation by his successful defence of Brazilian pirates in 1845; they were, indeed, convicted at the assizesAssizes
Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to::;in common law countries :::*assizes , an obsolete judicial inquest...
, but Collier ultimately procured their escape upon a point of law which the judge had refused to reserve. He was elected 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 Plymouth
Plymouth (UK Parliament constituency)
Plymouth was a parliamentary borough in Devon, which elected two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons in 1298 and again from 1442 until 1918, when the borough was merged with the neighbouring Devonport and the combined area divided into three single-member constituencies.-In the...
in the Liberal
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
interest in 1852, and in 1859 was appointed counsel to the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
and Judge-Advocate of the Fleet
Judge Advocate of the Fleet
In the United Kingdom, the Judge Advocate of Her Majesty's Fleet was a civilian judge who was responsible for the supervision and superintendence of the court martial system in the Royal Navy...
. In this capacity, he gave in 1862 an opinion in favor of detaining the Confederate rams building in the Mersey, which would have saved his country much money and much credit if it had been acted upon. In 1863, he became 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...
, and in 1868 Attorney-General
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...
, and in 1869 successfully passed a bankruptcy bill.
In 1871 Collier was appointed by 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...
one of four new judges upon the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
Judicial Committee of the Privy Council
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council is one of the highest courts in the United Kingdom. Established by the Judicial Committee Act 1833 to hear appeals formerly heard by the King in Council The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (JCPC) is one of the highest courts in the United...
, although it was expressly provided by the act creating these offices that none of them should be filled by a law-officer of the Crown. This prohibition was evaded by making Collier a judge of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
and transferring him after a few days to the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. This arrangement was unanimously condemned by public opinion, and gave the Gladstone cabinet a serious blow. He officiated, nevertheless, with distinction until his death, and was raised to the peerage as Baron Monkswell in 1885.
Personal Life
Royal Academy
The Royal Academy of Arts is an art institution based in Burlington House on Piccadilly, London. The Royal Academy of Arts has a unique position in being an independent, privately funded institution led by eminent artists and architects whose purpose is to promote the creation, enjoyment and...
and elsewhere. In his younger days he had been noted as a clever caricaturist. Collier was married to Isabella Rose, daughter of William Rose. They had two sons. His elder son, Robert
Robert Collier, 2nd Baron Monkswell
Robert Collier, 2nd Baron Monkswell , was a British Liberal politician. He was briefly Under-Secretary of State for War under The Earl of Rosebery in 1895.-Background:...
, after taking a first class degree in law at 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...
, went to the bar, and became (1871) conveyancing counsel to the treasury, and (1885-1886) an official examiner of the High Court, and, taking to politics as a Liberal, Under-Secretary of State for War
Under-Secretary of State for War
The position of Under-Secretary of State for War was a British government position, first applied to Evan Nepean . In 1801 the offices for War and the Colonies were merged and the post became that of Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies...
(1895). His younger son, John Collier
John Collier (artist)
The Honourable John Maler Collier OBE RP ROI , called 'Jack' by his family and friends, was a leading English artist, and an author. He painted in the Pre-Raphaelite style, and was one of the most prominent portrait painters of his generation. Both his marriages were to daughters of Thomas Henry...
, inherited his father's artistic tastes, and became a well-known painter. Monkswell died in 1886 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery
Brompton Cemetery is located near Earl's Court in South West London, England . It is managed by The Royal Parks and is one of the Magnificent Seven...
, London. Lady Monkswell died 10 April 1886, and is also buried in Brompton Cemetery. He was succeeded in the peerage by his elder son, Robert Collier.
Notable Judicial Decisions
R. v. CooteR. v. Coote
R. v. Coote is a court case dealing with the constitutional law of Canada, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, at that time the court of last resort for Canada within the British Empire. It was the first decision by the Judicial Committee dealing with the Constitution Act, 1867...
(1873), L.R. 4 P.C. 599, [1873] UKPC 26 (P.C.).