Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

John Nutt
Succeeded byFrancis Lovelace
Sir Edward Master
Personal details
Born
Heneage Finch

(1620-12-23)23 December 1620
Eastwell, Kent
Died18 December 1682(1682-12-18) (aged 61)
Great Queen Street, London
Spouse
Elizabeth Harvey
(after 1646)
Parent(s)
Sir Heneage Finch
Frances Bell Finch
EducationWestminster School
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford

Heneage Finch, 1st Earl of Nottingham,

Beaupre Hall, Norfolk.[1]

Early career

In the register of Oxford University, he is entered as born in Kent, and probably his native place was Eastwell in that county. He was educated at Westminster and at Christ Church, Oxford, where he remained until he became a member of the Inner Temple in 1638. He was called to the bar in 1645, and soon obtained a lucrative practice.[1]

Career

In April 1660, he was elected

regicides of Charles I, and was created a baronet the day after he was knighted. In May 1661 he was elected MP for Oxford University in the Cavalier Parliament.[2] In 1665 the university created him a D.C.L. In 1670 he became Attorney General, and in 1675 Lord Chancellor. He was created Baron Finch in January 1673 and Earl of Nottingham in May 1681.[3]

Popish Plot

During the Popish Plot, he played an active part in the interrogation of witnesses and preparation of the Crown's evidence. He is said to have been sceptical about the credibility of much of the evidence, and drew up a private report referring to the difficulties with Titus Oates' testimony.[4] In general he behaved with moderation and restraint during the Plot, as shown most notably in his impartial conduct, as Lord High Steward, of the trial of William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, (apart from a curious remark that it was now clear that the Great Fire of London was a Catholic conspiracy).[5] Kenyon notes that during the examination of the informer Miles Prance, Finch threatened him with the rack,[6] but such a lapse was most uncharacteristic of Finch, who was a humane and civilised man; in any case, the threat could hardly have been serious since the use of the rack had been declared illegal in 1628.

Finch and Nottingham House, now Kensington Palace

The original early 17th-century building was constructed in the village of

Court of St. James's.[7]

Personal life

On 30 July 1646, he was married to Elizabeth Harvey, daughter of William Harvey's younger brother Daniel, and his wife Elizabeth Kinnersley.[8] Together, Elizabeth and Heneage were the parents of six children, including:[9]

Lord Nottingham died in Great Queen Street,

Earldom of Winchelsea.[10]

Character

According to the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, his contemporaries on both sides of politics agree in their high estimate of his integrity, moderation and eloquence, while his abilities as a lawyer are sufficiently attested by the fact that he is still spoken of as the father of equity. His most important contribution to the statute book is The Statute of Frauds. While attorney-general he superintended the edition of Sir Henry Hobart's Reports (1671). He also published Several Speeches and Discourses in the Tryal of the Judges of King Charles 1. (1660); Speeches to both Houses of Parliament (1679); Speech at the Sentence of Viscount Stafford (1680). He left Chancery Reports in MS., and notes on Coke's Institutes.[13]

  • Arms of Finch: Argent, a chevron between three griffins passant sable
    Arms of Finch: Argent, a chevron between three griffins passant sable
  • His daughter Elizabeth (Peter Lely)
    His daughter Elizabeth (Peter Lely)

References

  1. ^ a b Chisholm 1911, p. 824.
  2. ^ a b History of Parliament Online - Finch, Heneage
  3. ^ Chisholm 1911, pp. 824–825.
  4. ^ Kenyon, J.P. The Popish Plot Phoenix Press Reissue 2000 p. 86
  5. ^ Kenyon p. 232
  6. ^ Kenyon p. 153
  7. ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Kensington" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 15 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 733.
  8. ^ a b c d Power, D’Arcy: "William Harvey", Longmans Green & Co., New York, 1898, Page 7.
  9. ^ "Nottingham, Earl of (E, 1681)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Winchilsea, Earl of (E, 1628)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Aylesford, Earl of (GB, 1714)". cracroftspeerage.co.uk. Heraldic Media Limited. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  12. ^ 'Faber-Flood', in Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714, ed. Joseph Foster (Oxford, 1891), pp. 480-509. British History Online http://www.british-history.ac.uk/alumni-oxon/1500-1714/pp480-509 [accessed 25 October 2022].
  13. ^ Chisholm 1911, p. 825.

External links

Legal offices
Preceded by
William Ellis
Solicitor General
1660–1670
Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney General
1670–1673
Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by
The Earl of Shaftesbury

(Lord Chancellor)
Lord Keeper
1673–1675
Succeeded by
Sir Francis North
(Lord Keeper)
Lord Chancellor
1675–1682
Parliament of England
Preceded by
John Nutt
Member of Parliament for Canterbury
1660
With: Sir Anthony Aucher
Succeeded by
Preceded by
Thomas Clayton
John Mylles
Member of Parliament for Oxford University
1661–1674
With: Laurence Hyde
Succeeded by
Peerage of England
New title Earl of Nottingham
7th creation
1681–1682
Succeeded by
Baron Finch of Daventry

1673–1682
Baronetage of England
New title
Baronet

(of Raunston, Buckinghamshire)
1660–1682
Succeeded by