John Glanville (judge)
Sir John Glanville (1542 – 27 July 1600), the elder, of Kilworthy, Tavistock, in Devon, was an English Member of Parliament and judge and was the first judge recorded as having reached the bench after beginning his career as an attorney. He was a distant cousin of Ranulph de Glanvill (d.1191), Chief Justiciar of England during the reign of King Henry II (1154-1189), author of Tractatus de Legibus et Consuetudinibus Regni Angliae ("Treatise on the Laws and Customs of the Kingdom of England"), the earliest treatise on the laws of England.[2][3]
Career
Born in Tavistock, he began as an attorney but joined Lincoln's Inn in 1567 and was called to the bar in 1574: his practice proved lucrative and he amassed a considerable fortune, building a mansion at Kilworthy near Tavistock. He became a serjeant-at-law in 1589, and was both Lent and Autumn Reader of his Inn in that same year. He sat as MP for Launceston in the Parliament of 1584-5, for Tavistock in 1586-7 and St Germans in 1593. He was appointed Judge of Common Pleas in 1598.
Marriage & progeny
He married Alice Skirret by whom he had three sons and four daughters including:
- Sir John Glanville the younger, 2nd son, was also distinguished as a lawyer and was Speaker of the House of Commons in 1640.
- Joan Glanville, eldest daughter, who married Sampson Hele, MP.
- Dionis/Dewnes/Dunes (i.e. Denise) Glanville, who married Thomas Polwhele of Treworgan in Cornwall,.[4]
His widow Alice Skirret married Francis Godolphin (1540–1608) as his second wife.
Death & burial
While riding on circuit, Sir John was killed when he fell off his horse, breaking his neck, on 27 July 1600.[5] He was buried in Tavistock Church. His memorial is considered to be one of the finest church monuments in the West of England dating from the 17th century.[6]
References
- ↑ Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitation of the County of Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & 1620, Exeter, 1895, p.410, pedigree of Glanville of Tavistock
- ↑ Everyman's Encyclopaedia, 5th edition, London, 1967, vol.6, p.31
- ↑ Vivian, pp.410-11, pedigree of Glanville of Tavistock
- ↑ Vivian, p.411
- ↑ History of Parliament Online article.
- ↑ http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM9NX1_John_Glanville_monument_St_Eustachius_Church_Tavistock_Devon
"Glanville, John (1542-1600)". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. - Edward Foss, The Judges of England, Volume 5 (London: Longman, Brown, Green, Longmans & Roberts, 1857)
- Browne Willis, Notitia Parliamentaria (London, 1750)
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