Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer

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Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer was the first baron of the Exchequer. "In the absence of both the Treasurer of the Exchequer or First Lord of the Treasury, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, it was he who presided in the equity court and answered the bar i.e. spoke for the court." Practically speaking it is the most important office of the court of the Exchequer.

The chief baron along with the three puisne barons, sat as a court of common law, heard suits in the court of equity, and settled revenue disputes.

From 1550-1579, there was a major distinction between the chief baron and the second, third and fourth puisne barons. The difference was in social status and education. All of the chief barons had been trained as lawyers in the inns of court. With the exception of Henry Bradshaw and Sir Clement Higham, both barristers-at-law , all of the chief barons who served Queen Elizabeth I, had attained the highest and most prestigious rank of a lawyer, serjeant-at-law.

[edit] Chief Barons of the Exchequer 1552-1676

• 1552 Henry Bradshaw Esq
• 1553 David Brooke
• 1558 Sir Clement Higham
• 1559 Sir Edward Saunders
• 1577 Sir Robert Bell
• 1577 Sir John Jeffery
• 1578 Sir Roger Manwood
• 1593 Sir William Peryam
• 1604 Sir Thomas Fleming
• 1607 Sir Lawrence Tanfield
• 1625 Sir John Walter
• 1631 Sir Humphrey Davenport
• 1645 Sir Richard Lane
• 1648 John Wilde
• 1655 William Steele
• 1658 Sir Thomas Widdrington
• 1660 John Wilde
• 1660 Sir Orlando Bridgeman
• 1660 Sir Matthew Hale
• 1671 Sir Edward Turnor
• 1676 Sir William Montagu

[edit] References

• Bryson, W., The equity side of the Exchequer; Its jurisdiction, administration, procedures, and records; York prize essay for 1973.