Page:The Complete Peerage Ed 2 Vol 3.djvu/178

 158 CHELMSFORD Tower Str., 15 July, and bap. 4 Sep. 1794, at St. Dunstan's-in-the-East, London; ed. at Dr. Burney's school at Greenwich, and subsequently at the naval academy at Gosport. In 1807 he became a midshipman and served 7 Sep. at the second bombardment of Copenhagen. The total destruc- tion, in 18 12, of his father's estate in St. Vincent by volcanic eruption, made him resolve to become a barrister, with a view to practice in the West Indies. He entered at Gray's Inn, 5 Nov. 1 813, and was called to the Bar, 18 Nov. 1818, migrating to the Inner Temple, 1824. He joined the Home Circuit, and became (by purchase) one of the four Counsel of the Palace Court, Instituted for trial of causes of small amount within 1 2 miles of Westm. K.C. 1834, being for the next 10 years Leader of his Circuit. He was M.P. (Conservative) for Woodstock, 1840-44; for Abingdon, 1844-52; and for Stamford, 1852-58. Treasurer of the Inner Temple, 1843. After 26 years' practice, he was, 15 Apr. 1844, made Solicitor Gen., being knighted 23 May 1844. F.R.S. 19 June 1845. Attorney Gen. 29 June 1845 to 3 July 1846, and again 27 Feb. to 28 Dec. 1852. In the Derby ministry of 1858-59 he was Lord Chancellor, 26 Feb. i858.('') P.C. 26 Feb. 1858. On i Mar. 1858 he was cr. BARON CHELMSFORD (>■) OF CHELMSFORD, Essex. He resigned the Chancellorship (in 16 months' time) 18 June 1859, was reappointed 6 July 1866, but again resigned 29 Feb. i868.('=) Hon. D.C.L., Oxford. He w., 9 Mar. 1822, at All Saints', Southampton, Anna Maria, yst. da. and coh. of William TiNLiNG, of Southampton, by Frances,('^) da. of Sir Richard Pierson, K.B. She, who was b. 24 Dec. 1799, d. 9 Apr. 1875, ^'^ 7 Eaton Sq., Midx., and was bur. in Brompton cemetery. He d. 5 Oct. 1878, after a painful operation, in his 85th year, at the same house, and was bur. with his wife.(') Will pr. 23 Oct. 1878, under ;^50,ooo.(') (*) For this and other great offices of State see vol. ii, Appendix D. ('') He chose this designation, as it was at Chehnsford, in 1832, that the trial took place in which he acquired the greatest reputation. It was as to the title of his client (the Lord of the Manor) to some unenclosed strips of land on the highway, which, after three trials, he succeeded in establishing. There were, indeed, i^vf cele- brated trials during his long career, in which he did not hold a brief, and his eloquence and good sense rendered him a most successful advocate. ('^) He was compelled, by Disraeli, to make way for his abler successor. Lord Cairns, without, as he bitterly said, the month's notice which would have been given to a cook. V.G. (^) This Frances was sister and coh. of the gallant Major Pierson who was slain 6 Jan. 1 781 while successfully repelling a formidable French invasion of the Isle of Jersey. if) His 3rd son, the Hon. Alfred Henry Thesiger, b. 15 July 1838, early distin- guished himself in his father's profession; Q.C. 1873; one of the Lords Justices of Appeal and a P.C, 1877. ^^ ^- ^-P- 20 Oct. 1880, aged 42. A popular man but an indifferent lawyer. George Venables said of his appointment, " Sir Frederic Thesiger is raised to the Chancellorship amidst universal sympathy which we cannot help extending to the suitors." V.G.