Thomas Chitty
Encyclopedia
Thomas Chitty was an English
lawyer
and legal writer
who was pupil master
to a generation of eminent lawyers and played a significant role in documenting the legal reforms of the nineteenth century.
and his wife, Elizabeth née Woodward. He was never called to the bar but began to practise as a special pleader
in 1820 at the early age of nineteen.
s including:
- and sundry future judge
s and politician
s.
The practice of special pleader demanded mastery of detail and the technical intricacies of the law and Chitty's career spanned huge changes from the Common Law Procedure Acts 1852-4 to the Judicature Acts 1873-5
, reforms that changed the ancient regime of forms of action
into, essentially, the modern system. Chitty exploited the opportunity in publishing a number of practitioners' texts including preparing new editions of:
- and publishing several works in his own right including Forms of Practical Proceedings (1834). His grandson T. Willes Chitty edited the 11th edition in 1879.
player and musician
, and an energetic volunteer." He retired in 1877, and died at home in London
.
In 1826, he had married Eliza née Cawston and the couple parented two sons who followed their father's legal footsteps:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and legal writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
who was pupil master
Pupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
to a generation of eminent lawyers and played a significant role in documenting the legal reforms of the nineteenth century.
Early life
Thomas was the third son of Joseph ChittyJoseph Chitty (the elder)
Joseph Chitty was an English lawyer and legal writer, author of some of the earliest practitioners' texts and founder of an important dynasty of lawyers.-Life and practice:...
and his wife, Elizabeth née Woodward. He was never called to the bar but began to practise as a special pleader
Special pleader
A special pleader was a historial legal occupation. The practitioner, or "special pleader" in English law specialised in drafting "pleadings", in modern terminology statements of case.-History:...
in 1820 at the early age of nineteen.
Legal practice
Chitty practiced at 1 King's Bench Walk where he educated a generation of eminent pupilPupillage
A pupillage, in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland, is the barrister's equivalent of the training contract that a solicitor undertakes...
s including:
- Hugh CairnsHugh Cairns, 1st Earl CairnsHugh McCalmont Cairns, 1st Earl Cairns PC, QC was a British statesman who served as Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom during the first two ministries of Benjamin Disraeli. He was one of the most prominent Conservative statesmen in the House of Lords during this period of Victorian politics...
, a future Lord ChancellorLord ChancellorThe Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
; - Farrer HerschellFarrer Herschell, 1st Baron HerschellFarrer Herschell, 1st Baron Herschell GCB, PC, QC was Lord Chancellor of Great Britain in 1886, and again from 1892 to 1895.-Early career:...
, another; - James WhitesideJames WhitesideJames Whiteside was an Irish politician and judge.-Background and education:Whiteside was the son of William Whiteside, a clergyman of the Church of Ireland, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, being called to the Irish bar in 1830.-Legal and judicial career:Whiteside very rapidly...
, a future Chief Justice of IrelandChief Justice of IrelandThe Chief Justice of Ireland is the president of the Supreme Court of Ireland.Under Constitution of Ireland, the Chief Justice of Ireland also occupies several positions ex officio, these include;* A possible judge of the High Court....
; - William SheeWilliam SheeSir William Shee QS was an Anglo-Irish politician, lawyer and judge, the first Roman Catholic judge to sit in England and Wales since the Reformation.-Early life and legal career:...
;
- and sundry future 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...
s and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
s.
The practice of special pleader demanded mastery of detail and the technical intricacies of the law and Chitty's career spanned huge changes from the Common Law Procedure Acts 1852-4 to the Judicature Acts 1873-5
Judicature Acts
The Judicature Acts are a series of Acts of Parliament, beginning in the 1870s, which aimed to fuse the hitherto split system of courts in England and Wales. The first two Acts were the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1873 and the Supreme Court of Judicature Act 1875 The Judicature Acts are a...
, reforms that changed the ancient regime of forms of action
Form of action
The forms of action were the different procedures by which a legal claim could be made in the early history of the English common law. While in modern English law, as in most other legal systems, the focus is on the substance underlying an action, such as the existence of a legal right, in the...
into, essentially, the modern system. Chitty exploited the opportunity in publishing a number of practitioners' texts including preparing new editions of:
- John Frederick Archbold's The Practice of the Court of King's Bench in Personal Actions and Ejectments, despite Archbold's objections;
- His father's Treatise on the Parties to Actions;
- Richard BurnRichard BurnRichard Burn was an English legal writer.-Education and career:...
's Justice of the Peace (1845);
- and publishing several works in his own right including Forms of Practical Proceedings (1834). His grandson T. Willes Chitty edited the 11th edition in 1879.
Family, personality and death
"Chitty was known as a kind and genial man, a keen whistWhist
Whist is a classic English trick-taking card game which was played widely in the 18th and 19th centuries. It derives from the 16th century game of Trump or Ruff, via Ruff and Honours...
player and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, and an energetic volunteer." He retired in 1877, and died at home in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
In 1826, he had married Eliza née Cawston and the couple parented two sons who followed their father's legal footsteps:
- Thomas Edward Chitty (1826/7-1868), clerk to the BristolBristolBristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
assizesAssizesAssize 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...
; and - Joseph William Chitty, became a judgeJudgeA 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...
in 1881.