Sir James Reynolds, junior
Encyclopedia
Sir James Reynolds was Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer
from 1730 to 1738. He should not be confused with his relative Sir James Reynolds (judge)
who was Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
in the same era.
He was the son of James Reynolds of Helions Bumpstead
in Essex
and his second wife Bridget Parker. He entered Lincoln's Inn
and was called to the Bar in 1712; he became serjeant after only two years. He sat in the House of Commons
as member for Bury St. Edmunds
and was also Recorder there.
As a barrister his most notable case was the celebrated question as to whether King George I
had sole rights over the care and education of his grandchildren (1718). He argued unsuccessfully that the future George II
had the right to determine how his children should be educated. George I seems not to have born any grudge and appointed him a judge of the Court of King's Bench in 1725. George II made him Chief Baron in 1730; he retired apparently for health reasons in 1738 and died the following February.He was buried in St. James Church, Bury, and a memorial was raised to him there. He married twice, firstly to Mary Smith and secondly to Alice Rainbird, but had no children.
Foss praises him as a judge who throughout his career endeavoured to do his duty "without fear or affection. prejudice or passion".
The year after his death another Sir James Reynolds, who had been Chief Justice of Common Pleas in Ireland, was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer. Their precise relationship has caused some difficulty, but it seems that the Chief Baron, though two years younger, was the Irish Chief Justice's uncle, the latter being the son of Robert Reynolds, a much older half- brother of the 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...
from 1730 to 1738. He should not be confused with his relative Sir James Reynolds (judge)
James Reynolds (judge)
Sir James Reynolds was an English judge who had a distinguished career in both Ireland and England, holding the office of Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas and later Baron of the Exchequer in England...
who was Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas
The Chief Justice of the Common Pleas for Ireland was the senior judge of the Court of Common Pleas ,known in its early stage as the Common Bench or simply Bench, one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of Common Pleas in England...
in the same era.
He was the son of James Reynolds of Helions Bumpstead
Helions Bumpstead
Helions Bumpstead is a small village in Essex located near Haverhill and the Essex/Suffolk/Cambridgeshire borders. It is 2 miles from Steeple Bumpstead. Helions Bumpstead has "the greens"; Pale Green , Wiggens Green , and Drapers Green . There are four roads into and out of the village they are;...
in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and his second wife Bridget Parker. He entered Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
and was called to the Bar in 1712; he became serjeant after only two years. He sat in the House of Commons
House of Commons of Great Britain
The House of Commons of Great Britain was the lower house of the Parliament of Great Britain between 1707 and 1801. In 1707, as a result of the Acts of Union of that year, it replaced the House of Commons of England and the third estate of the Parliament of Scotland, as one of the most significant...
as member for Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St. Edmunds
Bury St Edmunds is a market town in the county of Suffolk, England, and formerly the county town of West Suffolk. It is the main town in the borough of St Edmundsbury and known for the ruined abbey near the town centre...
and was also Recorder there.
As a barrister his most notable case was the celebrated question as to whether 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....
had sole rights over the care and education of his grandchildren (1718). He argued unsuccessfully that the future George II
George II of Great Britain
George II was King of Great Britain and Ireland, Duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg and Archtreasurer and Prince-elector of the Holy Roman Empire from 11 June 1727 until his death.George was the last British monarch born outside Great Britain. He was born and brought up in Northern Germany...
had the right to determine how his children should be educated. George I seems not to have born any grudge and appointed him a judge of the Court of King's Bench in 1725. George II made him Chief Baron in 1730; he retired apparently for health reasons in 1738 and died the following February.He was buried in St. James Church, Bury, and a memorial was raised to him there. He married twice, firstly to Mary Smith and secondly to Alice Rainbird, but had no children.
Foss praises him as a judge who throughout his career endeavoured to do his duty "without fear or affection. prejudice or passion".
The year after his death another Sir James Reynolds, who had been Chief Justice of Common Pleas in Ireland, was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer. Their precise relationship has caused some difficulty, but it seems that the Chief Baron, though two years younger, was the Irish Chief Justice's uncle, the latter being the son of Robert Reynolds, a much older half- brother of the Chief Baron.