| Sir William Fortescue KC, PC | |
|---|---|
| Attorney General for the Duchy of Cornwall | |
| In office 1730–1736 |
|
| Preceded by | William Lee |
| Succeeded by | Robert Pauncefort |
| Master of the Rolls | |
| In office 5 November 1741 – 15 December 1749 |
|
| Preceded by | Sir John Verney |
| Succeeded by | Sir John Strange |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1687 |
| Died | 15 December 1749 |
| Nationality | British |
| Profession | Barrister, Judge, Politician |
Sir William Fortescue, KC, PC (1687 – 15 December 1749) was a British judge. He was the son of Henry Fortescue and his wife Agnes, and a descendant of the noted lawyer John Fortescue.[1] Fortescue was educated at Barnstaple Grammar School (where he met John Gay, who would become a lifelong friend) and matriculated to Trinity College, Oxford in 1705. He married his cousin, Mary Fortescue (daughter of Edmund Fortescue) on 7 July 1709, who bore him a daughter before her death on 1 August 1710.[2] Her death prompted him to become a barrister,[2] and he was admitted to Middle Temple in 1714, transferring to Inner Temple later in the same year before his call to the Bar in July 1715.[1]
Fortescue was a "sound and businesslike" barrister,[2] and a "good lawyer",[1] and built up a strong practice. He first became involved in politics in 1724, when Robert Walpole (the Chancellor of the Exchequer) employed him as his secretary. In 1727 he was returned as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Newport, and despite his duties as an MP and secretary to Walpole he continued his practice as a barrister.[2] In 1730 he became a King's Counsel, and the same year was made Attorney General for the Duchy of Cornwall. On 9 February 1736 he was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer, having resigned as a MP and as Attorney General.[2] He was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas on 7 July 1738, replacing John Comyns,[3] and on 5 November 1741 he succeeded Sir John Verney as Master of the Rolls, becoming a Privy Councillor on 19 November.[2] He remained Master of the Rolls until his death on 15 December 1749.
As well as his work as a barrister and judge, Fortescue was also involved in the London literary scene - John Gay introduced him to Alexander Pope, and he became a founding member of the Scriblerus Club.[1] He was the co-author of "Stradling versus Stiles" with Pope, and Pope dedicated Imitation of the First Satire of Horace to him.[4]
| Parliament of Great Britain | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir William Willys George Huxley |
Member of Parliament for Newport (Isle of Wight) 1727–1736 With: George Huxley |
Succeeded by Viscount Boyle George Huxley |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by John Comyns |
Baron of the Exchequer 9 February 1736 – 7 July 1738 |
Succeeded by Thomas Parker |
| Preceded by John Comyns |
Justice of the Common Pleas 7 July 1738 – 5 November 1741 |
Succeeded by Thomas Burnet |
| Preceded by Sir John Verney |
Master of the Rolls 5 November 1741 – 15 December 1749 |
Succeeded by Sir John Strange |