Sir John Skynner, PC was an English judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1771 to 1777.
Occupation
judge, politician
Position held
member of the 13th Parliament of Great Britain, member of the 14th Parliament of Great Britain, Chief Baron of the Exchequer
Citizenship
Kingdom of Great Britain, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
Born
1724
Died
1805
Overview
Sir John Skynner, PC (1724 – 26 November 1805) was an English judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1771 to 1777.
He was born in London the son of John Skynner of Great Milton, Oxfordshire and educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, where he matriculated in 1742. He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1739 to study law and was called to the bar in 1748.
He became attorney-general to the Duchy of Lancaster from 1770 to 1777, made K.C. in 1771 and a bencher at Lincoln's Inn the same year. He was appointed recorder of Woodstock from 1771 to 1780, second justice of Chester from 1772 to 1777 and recorder of Oxford from 1776 to 1797.
He was elected Member of Parliament for New Woodstock from 1771 to 1777. He gave up his seat in 1777: he was made a serjeant-at-law on 27 November 1777 and on 1 December was appointed Chief Baron of the Exchequer, a post he held until 1787, after which he was made a Privy Counsellor. He was knighted on 23 November 1777.
