The Judge of the High Court of Admiralty was established in 1483 he was the chief law officer of the High Court of Admiralty. The office holder was supported by various officials and existed until 1875.
Contents
History
The High Court of Admiralty was created as a separate court following the Battle of Sluys in 1340. In the following century, it was administered by the Vice-Admiral of England who was the deputy of the Lord High Admiral who acted as the court's judge. The High Court of Admiralty absorbed the jurisdiction duties of the separate admiralty courts of the admirals of the north, south and west by 1414. In 1483, it was decided to establish a distinct office separate from that of the Vice-Admiral of England, thus relieving him from one of his responsibilities. Until the resignation of the Duke of York in 1673, the Judge of the High Court of Admiralty was appointed by the Lord High Admiral by letters patent. From 1673, appointments were granted by the monarch and confirmed by letters patent. There was one exception to this rule: in 1714, Judge Henchman was appointed by the Board of Admiralty. Between the years 1694 to 1707, he was a member of the Privy Council of England and until 1714 the Privy Council of Great Britain. In all, there were forty Judges of the High Court of Admiralty appointed (some served more than once) from 1483 until 1875, when the court itself was abolished thus bringing to an end nearly 400 years of history. The office holder was part of the admiralty's Judicial Department.
Office holders
Judges of the High Court of Admiralty
Included:
1483-1490, William Lacy, LL.B.
1490-1514, Robert Rydon LL.B.
1514-1524, Christopher Middleton, LL.B.
1524-1536, Sir. John Tregonwell D.C.L.
1536-1542 Anthony Hussey sitting for Sir John Tregonwell as Deputy Judge
1542-1549, Sir. John Tregonwell D.C.L
1549, January–October, Richard Lyell, D.C.L.
1549-1554, Griffith or (Griffin) Leyson, D.C.L.
1554-1558, William Cooke or (Coke), D.C.L.
1558-1574 David Lewis, D.C.L.
1575-1584 David Lewis, D.C.L. and John Harbert or (Herbert) B.C.L. (jointly)
1584-1589 Sir Julius Caesar D.C.L. and Valentine Dale, D.C.L. (jointly) Dale died in 1589
1589-1605, Sir Julius Caesar D.C.L.
1605-1608, Sir Thomas Crompton, D.C.L.
1608-1617, Sir Daniel Dun or (Donne), D.C.L.
1614-1617 Sir Richard Trevor or (Trever), D.C.L.
1617-1641, Sir Henry Marten, D.C.L.
1641-1643, Richard Zouche, D.C.L.