James Mansfield

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For other people named James Mansfield, see James Mansfield (disambiguation).

Sir
James Mansfield
SL KC
Member of Parliament
for Cambridge University
In office
1779–1784
Preceded byMarquess of Granby
Succeeded byEarl of Euston

Sir James Mansfield, SL KC (originally Manfield; 10 May 1734 – 23 November 1821) was a British lawyer, judge and politician. He was twice Solicitor General and served as Chief Justice of the Common Pleas from 1799 to 1814.

Early life and career

The son of a

MA
in 1758.

Mansfield pursued a career in law, obtaining admission to the

James Somersett's lawyers; Somersett was a slave brought by his master from Jamaica to London in 1769, and freed on 22 June 1772 by a ruling from Lord Mansfield
(no relation).

Mansfield was made

Fort St George
.

His ability was admired by the

North Ministry, and he was offered a seat at Morpeth in 1776 by the Earl of Carlisle, but declined lest it interfere with his prospects for a judgeship. He was considered, but ultimately passed over, by North to fill the post of Attorney General
or Solicitor General.

Political career

Mansfield finally did enter the

House of Commons in 1779 as member for Cambridge University, replacing the newly acceded Duke of Rutland. While he was supported by the Duke of Grafton against the government candidate, Lord John Townshend, he subsequently voted with the administration. He was appointed Solicitor General on 1 September 1780, and was part of the prosecution of Lord George Gordon
in 1781.

He went into opposition in April 1782 with the fall of North, and briefly regained the Solicitor-Generalship in 1783 under the

Fox-North Coalition. That ministry fell in December, and he was defeated in the general election of 1784
.

Return to the law

While in Parliament, in 1782, Mansfield had been elected Reader of the Middle Temple, and was Treasurer in 1785. He was counsel in a number of high-profile cases, including the

Chief Justice of Chester in July 1799 before becoming Chief Justice of the Common Pleas on 24 April 1804, becoming a serjeant-at-law
and receiving a knighthood.

Wall plaque in St George's Church, Bloomsbury, London UK
Wall plaque in St George's Church, Bloomsbury, London UK

As a judge, he was principally known for his easily provoked temper, but his knowledge of the law was thought considerable. He refused an offer of the Lord Chancellorship in 1806. As chief justice, he presided over the trial of John Bellingham, assassin of Spencer Perceval, in 1812. Mansfield resigned on 21 February 1814, due to ill health and died at his house in London on 23 May 1821.

See also

References

  1. ^ "James Mansfield (MNST750J)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
Parliament of Great Britain
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Cambridge University
1779–1784
With: Richard Croftes 1779–1780
Lord John Townshend 1780–1784 		Succeeded by
Legal offices
Preceded by Solicitor General for England and Wales
1780–1782 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Solicitor General for England and Wales
1783 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
William Grant
Chief Justice of Chester

1799–1804 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
1804–1814 		Succeeded by
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