Salathiel Lovell
Encyclopedia
Sir Salathiel Lovell was an English
judge
, Recorder of London
, an ancient and bencher
of Grey's Inn, and a Baron of the Exchequer
.
, Warwickshire
, and brother of Robert Lovell, and was born in 1631 or 1632. Aside from his religious calling, his father was a parliamentarian
in the English Civil War
, serving for a time under Colonel William Purefoy
, one of the regicide
s of King Charles I of England
.
Salathiel Lovell was accepted into Grey's Inn to read for the Bar
in 1648. He worked as a clerk in Buckinghamshire, and as one of the parish trustees of parish lands in Lapworth, before being called to the bar
in November 1656.
by 1661, as evidenced by baptism records for a son, also called Salathiel; was active in the factional politics of the town, and was relied upon as a legal authority, becoming the deputy recorder of the town. He was active, too, within Grey's Inn, being appointed an ancient of the inn (a junior official role) in 1671 and six years later a bencher, or member of the controlling committee of the Inn.
Lovell clearly accommodated himself to the changing post-restoration
times, but was suspected of radical whig politics by reason of his alleged involvement, in 1684, in the promulgation of an attack on acquiescence to the concept of the divine rights of kings
. In the same year he was counsel for William Sacheverell
, a prominent whig, who with others was indicted for a riot at an election for the mayoralty of Nottingham
.
In June 1688 he became a serjeant-at-law
, and four years later he was a candidate against James Selby for the recordership of London
. Each candidate obtained twelve votes, and Lovell was elected by the casting vote of the Lord Mayor.
On 22 October 1692 he carried up an address of congratulation to William III of England
at Kensington Palace on his return from abroad, and an invitation to a banquet at the Guildhall
on Lord Mayor's Day, and was thereupon knighted
. In 1695, on 24 May, the first day of term, he was called within the bar as king's serjeant, and in the following year became a judge on the Welsh circuit. He continued to be principally occupied with the administration of the criminal law
, and in 1700 he petitioned the crown for a grant of the forfeited estate of Joseph Horton of Cotton Abbotts
in Cheshire
, on the ground that he had been more diligent in the discovery and conviction of criminals than any other person in the kingdom, and that he had been a loser by it, his post being worth but £80 a year with few perquisites
, and usually being regarded as a mere stepping-stone to a judgeship in Westminster Hall.
In June 1700, when the retirement of Baron Lechmere
as a Baron of the Exchequer was expected, Lovell was looked on as his successor, but he continued without reward until ultimately the land in question was granted to him, and on 17 June 1708, at the age of 76, he was appointed a fifth baron of the exchequer. He had resigned his Welsh judgeship in the previous year, and now vacated the recordership.
Lovell's grandson, Richard Lovell Edgeworth
, in his memoirs, provides an impression of Salathiel:
Referring to the extent to which Lovell, by the end of his life, had lost his memory, Edgeworth relates an anecdote told by his father of a lawyer pleading before Lovell being so rude as to say "Sir, you have forgotten the law", to which Lovell is reputed to have answered "Young man, I have forgotten more law, than you will ever remember".
Kingdom of England
The Kingdom of England was, from 927 to 1707, a sovereign state to the northwest of continental Europe. At its height, the Kingdom of England spanned the southern two-thirds of the island of Great Britain and several smaller outlying islands; what today comprises the legal jurisdiction of England...
judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
, Recorder of London
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
, an ancient and 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 Grey's Inn, and a Baron of the Exchequer
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...
.
Origins and education
Lovell was the son of Benjamin Lovell, rector of LapworthLapworth
Lapworth is a village and civil parish situated in the east of the county of Warwickshire, England. It lies close to the border with the West Midlands and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,100....
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, and brother of Robert Lovell, and was born in 1631 or 1632. Aside from his religious calling, his father was a parliamentarian
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
in the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, serving for a time under Colonel William Purefoy
William Purefoy
William Purefoy was an English politician who sat in the House of Commons of England variously between 1628 and 1659. He supported the Parliamentary cause in the English Civil War and was one of the regicides of King Charles I of England....
, one of the regicide
Regicide
The broad definition of regicide is the deliberate killing of a monarch, or the person responsible for the killing of a monarch. In a narrower sense, in the British tradition, it refers to the judicial execution of a king after a trial...
s of King Charles I of England
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...
.
Salathiel Lovell was accepted into Grey's Inn to read for the Bar
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...
in 1648. He worked as a clerk in Buckinghamshire, and as one of the parish trustees of parish lands in Lapworth, before being called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in November 1656.
Career
He had moved to NorthamptonNorthampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
by 1661, as evidenced by baptism records for a son, also called Salathiel; was active in the factional politics of the town, and was relied upon as a legal authority, becoming the deputy recorder of the town. He was active, too, within Grey's Inn, being appointed an ancient of the inn (a junior official role) in 1671 and six years later a bencher, or member of the controlling committee of the Inn.
Lovell clearly accommodated himself to the changing post-restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
times, but was suspected of radical whig politics by reason of his alleged involvement, in 1684, in the promulgation of an attack on acquiescence to the concept of the divine rights of kings
Divine Right of Kings
The divine right of kings or divine-right theory of kingship is a political and religious doctrine of royal and political legitimacy. It asserts that a monarch is subject to no earthly authority, deriving his right to rule directly from the will of God...
. In the same year he was counsel for William Sacheverell
William Sacheverell
William Sacheverell was an English statesman.He was the son of Henry Sacheverell, a country gentleman. His family had been prominent in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire since the 12th century, the name appearing as Sent Cheveroll in the roll of Battle Abbey; William inherited large estates from his...
, a prominent whig, who with others was indicted for a riot at an election for the mayoralty of Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
.
In June 1688 he became a serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
, and four years later he was a candidate against James Selby for the recordership of London
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
. Each candidate obtained twelve votes, and Lovell was elected by the casting vote of the Lord Mayor.
On 22 October 1692 he carried up an address of congratulation to William III of England
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...
at Kensington Palace on his return from abroad, and an invitation to a banquet at the Guildhall
Guildhall, London
The Guildhall is a building in the City of London, off Gresham and Basinghall streets, in the wards of Bassishaw and Cheap. It has been used as a town hall for several hundred years, and is still the ceremonial and administrative centre of the City of London and its Corporation...
on Lord Mayor's Day, and was thereupon 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...
. In 1695, on 24 May, the first day of term, he was called within the bar as king's serjeant, and in the following year became a judge on the Welsh circuit. He continued to be principally occupied with the administration of the criminal law
Criminal law
Criminal law, is the body of law that relates to crime. It might be defined as the body of rules that defines conduct that is not allowed because it is held to threaten, harm or endanger the safety and welfare of people, and that sets out the punishment to be imposed on people who do not obey...
, and in 1700 he petitioned the crown for a grant of the forfeited estate of Joseph Horton of Cotton Abbotts
Cotton Abbotts
Cotton Abbotts is a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire West and Chester and ceremonial county of Cheshire in England. It has a population of 3.-External links:...
in Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, on the ground that he had been more diligent in the discovery and conviction of criminals than any other person in the kingdom, and that he had been a loser by it, his post being worth but £80 a year with few perquisites
Employee benefit
Employee benefits and benefits in kind are various non-wage compensations provided to employees in addition to their normal wages or salaries...
, and usually being regarded as a mere stepping-stone to a judgeship in Westminster Hall.
In June 1700, when the retirement of Baron 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....
as a Baron of the Exchequer was expected, Lovell was looked on as his successor, but he continued without reward until ultimately the land in question was granted to him, and on 17 June 1708, at the age of 76, he was appointed a fifth baron of the exchequer. He had resigned his Welsh judgeship in the previous year, and now vacated the recordership.
Judicial reputation
Lovell sat on the bench for five years, but was old and incompetent. He was ‘distinguished principally for his want of memory, and his title of recorder was converted into the nickname of the Obliviscor (forgetter) of London'.Lovell's grandson, Richard Lovell Edgeworth
Richard Lovell Edgeworth
Richard Lovell Edgeworth was an Anglo-Irish politician, writer and inventor.-Biography:Edgeworth was born in Pierrepont Street, Bath, England, grandson of Sir Salathiel Lovell through his daughter, Jane Lovell....
, in his memoirs, provides an impression of Salathiel:
- "My grandfather, the Welsh judge, travelling over the sands near Beaumaris, as he was going circuit, was overtaken by the night and by the tide: his coach was set fast in quicksand; the water soon rose into the coach, and his register, and some other attendants, crept out of the windows and mounted on the roof, and on the coach-box. The judge let the water rise to his very lips, and with becoming gravity replied, to all the earnest entreaties of his attendants, 'I will follow your counsel, if you can quote any precedent for a judge's mounting a coach-box'"
Referring to the extent to which Lovell, by the end of his life, had lost his memory, Edgeworth relates an anecdote told by his father of a lawyer pleading before Lovell being so rude as to say "Sir, you have forgotten the law", to which Lovell is reputed to have answered "Young man, I have forgotten more law, than you will ever remember".