Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/271



Admitted 26 February, 1617-8.

Eldest son of Sir George Villiers of Brooksby, and brother of the (q. v.). He was knighted 30 June, 1616. He was Groom of the Bedchamber and Master of the Rolls to Charles, Prince of Wales. He married Frances, daughter of Sir Edward Coke, a marriage which proved a tragedy, and he soon afterwards lost his reason. He died 18 Feb. 1656-7. He was made Baron Villiers and Viscount Purbeck in 1619; but at his death the peerage became extinct, the claim to it on the part of Robert Danvers leading to a cause célèbre.

Admitted 27 November, 1700.

Son and heir of Charles Viner of Salisbury. He was not called to the Bar. The work to which he devoted fifty years of his life is entitled A General Abridgment of Law and Equity, alphabetically Digested under Proper Titles, with Notes and References &hellip; published with an Alphabetical Index in 24 vols., Folio, 1742—58. It is based upon Rolle. It was printed at the author's own house on paper manufactured for the purpose. Mr. Viner died at Aldershot 5 June, 1756, and by his will left the copyright of his Abridgment and other property to the University of Oxford in order to found a Professorship of Common Law, now known as the Vinerian Professorship.

Admitted 4 October, 1791.

Eldest son of John Vivian of Truro, where he was born 28 July, 1775. He was educated at Harrow, Oxford, and in France, but in 1793 determined upon a military career and obtained a commission in the 20th Foot. He served with distinction in Holland, Egypt, and Spain, and was in the thick of the fighting at Waterloo. He was made a K.C.B. in 1815, and in 1828 was created a Baronet. He died at Baden-Baden 20 Aug. 1842.

W

Was a native of Yorkshire and educated at Oxford, where he graduated in 1531, and then, according to Anthony a Wood, removed to one of the Inns of Court, which, it may be assumed, was the Middle Temple at the time covered by its lost Register, as his name does not appear on the Registers of the other Inns. He is commonly known as the "English Columbus" from his explorations in North America, which he commenced in 1536. After his return he was employed in the service of Henry VIII., and became Chief Clerk of the Privy Council in 1552. He died 20 June, 1568, and was buried in Hampstead Church.

He is said to have written Observations on his travels, but no copy of such publication is now known. He also wrote a tract on the Distresses of the Commonwealth, which is preserved in the Record Office, and some Verses in Latin on the reception of the Duke of Somerset in London 1548.