William Bird (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Bird was a lawyer, Member of Parliament
for Oxford University and Dean
of the Court of Arches but who was accused in Parliament of taking improper fees.
, Essex
and matriculated
at All Souls College, Oxford
on 28 November 1581 aged 20, having become a Fellow in 1578. He studied civil law, obtaining the degrees of Bachelor of Civil Law
(1583) and Doctor of Civil Law
(1588) before becoming an advocate of the Court of Arches in 1589 and a member of Doctors' Commons
in 1590. He was also acting Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1591 and dean of All Souls College in 1593. He became more active in the courts, resigning his fellowship in 1604. In 1608 he became MP for the university
in succession to Thomas Crompton. In 1611 he became judge of the Prerogative Court
of Canterbury
along with John Bennet (judge)
, but became the sole judge in 1622 when Bennet was prosecuted for corruption. He was knighted in 1617 and became Dean
of the Court of Arches in 1618. He was also a Master in Chancery but was one of four masters accused in the Parliament of 1621 of taking improper fees, although they argued that the statute relied upon by their accusers was not intended to deprive them of their fees. He was buried on 5 September 1624 in Christ Church, Newgate, London. He was survived by his wife, but they had no children.
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 Oxford University and Dean
Dean of Arches
The Dean of Arches is the judge who sits at the ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. This appeal court is commonly called the Arches Court....
of the Court of Arches but who was accused in Parliament of taking improper fees.
Life
Bird was born in Saffron WaldenSaffron Walden
Saffron Walden is a medium-sized market town in the Uttlesford district of Essex, England. It is located north of Bishop's Stortford, south of Cambridge and approx north of London...
, 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 matriculated
Matriculation
Matriculation, in the broadest sense, means to be registered or added to a list, from the Latin matricula – little list. In Scottish heraldry, for instance, a matriculation is a registration of armorial bearings...
at All Souls College, Oxford
All Souls College, Oxford
The Warden and the College of the Souls of all Faithful People deceased in the University of Oxford or All Souls College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England....
on 28 November 1581 aged 20, having become a Fellow in 1578. He studied civil law, obtaining the degrees of Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law
Bachelor of Civil Law is the name of various degrees in law conferred by English-language universities. Historically, it originated as a postgraduate degree in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, but many universities now offer the BCL as an undergraduate degree...
(1583) and Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law
Doctor of Civil Law is a degree offered by some universities, such as the University of Oxford, instead of the more common Doctor of Laws degrees....
(1588) before becoming an advocate of the Court of Arches in 1589 and a member of Doctors' Commons
Doctors' Commons
Doctors' Commons, also called the College of Civilians, was a society of lawyers practising civil law in London. Like the Inns of Court of the common lawyers, the society had buildings with rooms where its members lived and worked, and a large library...
in 1590. He was also acting Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University in 1591 and dean of All Souls College in 1593. He became more active in the courts, resigning his fellowship in 1604. In 1608 he became MP for the university
Oxford University (UK Parliament constituency)
Oxford University was a university constituency electing two members to the British House of Commons, from 1603 to 1950.-Boundaries, Electorate and Electoral System:...
in succession to Thomas Crompton. In 1611 he became judge of the Prerogative Court
Prerogative court
A prerogative court is a court through which the discretionary powers, privileges, and legal immunities reserved to the sovereign were exercised. In England in the 17th century a clash developed between these courts, representing the crown's authority, and common law courts. Prerogative courts...
of Canterbury
Diocese of Canterbury
The Diocese of Canterbury is a Church of England diocese covering eastern Kent, founded by St. Augustine of Canterbury in 597. It is centred on Canterbury Cathedral, and is the oldest see of the Church of England....
along with John Bennet (judge)
John Bennet (judge)
Sir John Bennet was a judge and politician, whose career ended in disgrace after he was found guilty of extorting bribes and excessive fees.-Life:...
, but became the sole judge in 1622 when Bennet was prosecuted for corruption. He was knighted in 1617 and became Dean
Dean of Arches
The Dean of Arches is the judge who sits at the ecclesiastical court of the Archbishop of Canterbury in England. This appeal court is commonly called the Arches Court....
of the Court of Arches in 1618. He was also a Master in Chancery but was one of four masters accused in the Parliament of 1621 of taking improper fees, although they argued that the statute relied upon by their accusers was not intended to deprive them of their fees. He was buried on 5 September 1624 in Christ Church, Newgate, London. He was survived by his wife, but they had no children.