William Thompson (Ipswich MP)
Encyclopedia
Sir William Thompson or Thomson (1678 – 27 October 1739) was an English judge and politician, Member of Parliament
for Ipswich
.
, where he was called to the bar in 1698. He was returned to parliament, 4 May 1708, for Orford, Suffolk
, but, having taken an active part in the impeachment of Henry Sacheverell
and the prosecution of his riotous supporters, Daniel Dammaree, Francis Willis, and George Purchase (March–April 1709-10), lost his seat at the general election of the ensuing autumn. Returned for Ipswich, 3 September 1713, he was unseated on petition, 1 April 1714; but regained the seat on 28 January 1715, and retained it until his elevation to the exchequer bench.
On 3 March 1714-15 Thompson was elected recorder
of London, and soon after was knighted. He took part in the impeachment of the Jacobite George Seton, 5th Earl of Wintoun, 15–19 March 1716, Appointed for the solicitor-generalship
, 24 January 1717, he was dismissed from that office, 17 March 1720, for bringing an unfounded charge of corrupt practices against attorney-general Nicholas Lechmere
. Retaining the recordership, he was accorded in 1724 precedence in all courts after the solicitor-general. On 23 May 1726 he was appointed cursitor baron, and on 27 November 1729 he succeeded Sir Bernard Hale as puisne baron of the exchequer, having first been called to the degree of serjeant-at-law (17 November) This office with the recordership he retained until his death at Bath, 27 October 1739.
In 1717 William Thomson introduced an act into the House of Commons that eventually became law in 1718 (4 Geo I, c.11). Known as the Transportation Act (a.k.a Piracy Act of 1717), the Transportation Act formalized the process for transporting British criminals (except Scottish) to the American colonies. Seen as a way to reduce crime in Britain felons who committed clergyable offenses could be transported for 7 years and receivers of stolen goods could be transported for 14 years. This act of Thomson's resulted in tens of thousands of convicts being transported to the American colonies (including Canada and the West Indies) and later to Australia between 1718 and the end of transport in 1867.
, bart., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It does not appear that he had issue by either wife.
Attribution
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 Ipswich
Ipswich (UK Parliament constituency)
Ipswich is a borough constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election.- Boundaries :...
.
Life
He was second son of Sir William Thompson (d. 1695), serjeant-at-law, and was admitted in 1688 a student at the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, where he was called to the bar in 1698. He was returned to parliament, 4 May 1708, for Orford, Suffolk
Orford (UK Parliament constituency)
Orford was a constituency of the House of Commons. Consisting of the town of Orford in Suffolk, it elected two Members of Parliament by the bloc vote version of the first past the post system of election until it was disenfranchised in 1832.-History:...
, but, having taken an active part in the impeachment of Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell
Henry Sacheverell was an English High Church clergyman and politician.-Early life:The son of Joshua Sacheverell, rector of St Peter's, Marlborough,...
and the prosecution of his riotous supporters, Daniel Dammaree, Francis Willis, and George Purchase (March–April 1709-10), lost his seat at the general election of the ensuing autumn. Returned for Ipswich, 3 September 1713, he was unseated on petition, 1 April 1714; but regained the seat on 28 January 1715, and retained it until his elevation to the exchequer bench.
On 3 March 1714-15 Thompson was elected recorder
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...
of London, and soon after was knighted. He took part in the impeachment of the Jacobite George Seton, 5th Earl of Wintoun, 15–19 March 1716, Appointed for the solicitor-generalship
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...
, 24 January 1717, he was dismissed from that office, 17 March 1720, for bringing an unfounded charge of corrupt practices against attorney-general Nicholas Lechmere
Nicholas Lechmere
Sir Nicholas Lechmere , of Hanley Castle in Worcestershire, was an English Judge and Member of Parliament.A nephew of Sir Thomas Overbury, Lechmere was educated at Wadham College, Oxford, and called to the bar as a member of Middle Temple in 1641. On the outbreak of the Civil War, he sided with...
. Retaining the recordership, he was accorded in 1724 precedence in all courts after the solicitor-general. On 23 May 1726 he was appointed cursitor baron, and on 27 November 1729 he succeeded Sir Bernard Hale as puisne baron of the exchequer, having first been called to the degree of serjeant-at-law (17 November) This office with the recordership he retained until his death at Bath, 27 October 1739.
In 1717 William Thomson introduced an act into the House of Commons that eventually became law in 1718 (4 Geo I, c.11). Known as the Transportation Act (a.k.a Piracy Act of 1717), the Transportation Act formalized the process for transporting British criminals (except Scottish) to the American colonies. Seen as a way to reduce crime in Britain felons who committed clergyable offenses could be transported for 7 years and receivers of stolen goods could be transported for 14 years. This act of Thomson's resulted in tens of thousands of convicts being transported to the American colonies (including Canada and the West Indies) and later to Australia between 1718 and the end of transport in 1867.
Family
Thompson married twice: (1) by license dated 16 July 1701, Mrs. Joyce Brent, widow; (2) in 1711, Julia, daughter of Sir Christopher Conyers, bart., of Horden, Durham, widow of Sir William BlacketSir William Blackett, 1st Baronet, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne
Sir William Blackett, 1st Baronet was a landowner and politician who sat in the House of Commons in three periods between 1685 and 1705.Blackette was the third son of Sir William Blackett and his wife Elizabeth Kirkly...
, bart., of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. It does not appear that he had issue by either wife.
Sources
- http://www.leighrayment.com/commons/icommons.htm
Attribution