Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/226



Admitted 12 February, 1619-20.

Second son of Sir James Reynolds of Castle Camps, co. Cambs. (knighted in 1618). On 26 Oct. 1644, he took possession of the chambers previously occupied by (q.v.). He represented Hind on, Wilts, in the Long Parliament, and opposed the king in the Civil War, but refused to act on his trial. He was called to the Bar 21 June, 1650, and in the same year became for a short time Solicitor-General and again in 1659. In 1660 he became Attorney-General and at the Restoration, having supported Monk, made his peace with the king, who even conferred on him the honour of knighthood. No later memorial remains of him.

There is no record of his admission, but he was appointed Reader in 1529. He was the second son of Richard Rich and was born in the parish of St. Lawrence Jewry. He became Attorney-General for Wales in 1532, Solicitor-General to the king 1533, Speaker of the House of Commons in 1536, and Lord Chancellor in 1547, owing his advancement, it is feared, rather to his subserviency to the powers that were, rather than to his abilities or deserts. He was an important actor in all the events of the time—the trials of Sir Thomas More and Bishop Fisher (in which, as counsel for the prosecution, his conduct is open to grave censure), the dissolution of the monastic bodies, the intrigues of the reign of Edward VI., the proceedings in relation to Lady Jane Grey and the Duke of Northumberland, and the execution of the laws against heretics. He resigned his office of Chancellor in 1551, and from the accession of Elizabeth till his death on 12 June, 1567, lived chiefly in retirement on an estate he had acquired in the county of Essex, One of his daughters, Frances, married Lord Darcy (q.v.) of Chiche and the Middle Temple.

Admitted 24 March, 1781.

Only son of Joseph Richardson, a tradesman, of Hexham, Northumberland, where he was born. He was called to the Bar 5 May, 1786, and it is thought might have become a distinguished ornament of it if he had not preferred to devote himself almost exclusively to literature and politics. At the time of his death he was M.P. for Newport in Cornwall, having been elected in 1796, and part owner of Drury Lane Theatre. As a writer he is known as a contributor to The Rolliad and the Probationary Odes, and as the author of The Fugitives, a Comedy (1792).

RICHMOND, DUKE OF. See STUART, LUDOVICK.

Admitted 16 September, 1788.

Eldest son of William Ridgeway of Dublin. He graduated at Dublin University as B.A. 1787, LL.B. 1790, and LL.D. 1795. He was called to the Irish Bar and acted as Crown Counsel in the case of Robert Emmet in 1803, and in several other State trials. He died 1 Dec. 1817.