French Laurence (3 April 1757 – 27 February 1809)[1] was an English jurist and man of letters, a close associate of Edmund Burke whose literary executor he became.
He was the eldest son of Richard Laurence, watchmaker, of Bath, Somerset by Elizabeth, daughter of John French, clothier, of Warminster, Wiltshire, and was born on 3 April 1757. Richard Laurence was his younger brother. He was educated at Winchester School under Joseph Warton, and at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, of which he was scholar. He graduated B.A. on 17 December 1777, and proceeded M.A. on 21 June 1781. On leaving the university he took chambers at the Middle Temple with the view of being called to the common-law bar, but eventually devoted himself to civil law, and having taken the degree of D.C.L. at Oxford, 19 October 1787, was admitted to the College of Advocates on 3 November 1788.
Having made himself useful to Burke in preparing the preliminary case against Warren Hastings, he was retained as counsel in 1788 by the managers of the impeachment, together with William Scott, for colleague. He took no part in the proceedings in Westminster Hall beyond attending and watching their progress, but gave advice in chambers. His practice in ecclesiastical and admiralty courts thenceforward grew rapidly. He remained on intimate terms with Burke until his death, and was his literary executor.
In 1796 he was appointed, through the interest of the Duke of Portland, regius professor of civil law at Oxford, in succession to Thomas Francis Wenman, and the same year, through the influence of Burke with Earl Fitzwilliam, entered parliament as member for Peterborough. His speeches in parliament heavy and simply followed Burke's line, except in matters of international law. In opposing the union with Ireland he insisted that Burke, had he lived, would have done so likewise. Laurence was a member of the committee appointed in 1806 to frame the articles of impeachment against Henry Dundas, 1st Viscount Melville, the last such case. He was chancellor of the diocese of Oxford and a judge of the court of admiralty of the Cinque ports. He died suddenly on 26 February 1809, while on a visit to one of his brothers at Eltham, Kent, and was buried in Eltham Church, where a marble tablet was placed to his memory. Laurence did not marry. His leisure time he spent in society—he was a member of the Eumelean Club—or in writing.
Works
While pursuing his legal studies he wrote political ballads in aid of Charles James Fox's candidature for Westminster in 1784, and contributed to the Rolliad the advertisements and dedication, Criticisms iii. vi. vii. viii. xiii. and xiv. in the first part, vii. in the second part; Probationary Odes xvi. and xxi.; and the first of the Political Eclogues, viz. Rose, or the Complaint.
His letters to Burke were published and edited by his brother in The Epistolary Correspondence of the Right Hon. Edmund Burke and Dr. French Laurence, London, 1827. His Poetical Remains, published with those of his brother Richard (Dublin, 1872), include some odes, and a few sonnets and some translations from the Greek, Latin, and Italian. Laurence was also a frequent contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine. His dabblings in theology appeared as Critical Remarks on Detached Passages of the New Testament, particularly the Revelation of St. John, Oxford, 1810, edited by his brother.
french, laurence, april, 1757, february, 1809, english, jurist, letters, close, associate, edmund, burke, whose, literary, executor, became, contents, life, works, references, sources, external, linkslife, edithe, eldest, richard, laurence, watchmaker, bath, s. French Laurence 3 April 1757 27 February 1809 1 was an English jurist and man of letters a close associate of Edmund Burke whose literary executor he became Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 References 4 Sources 5 External linksLife EditHe was the eldest son of Richard Laurence watchmaker of Bath Somerset by Elizabeth daughter of John French clothier of Warminster Wiltshire and was born on 3 April 1757 Richard Laurence was his younger brother He was educated at Winchester School under Joseph Warton and at Corpus Christi College Oxford of which he was scholar He graduated B A on 17 December 1777 and proceeded M A on 21 June 1781 On leaving the university he took chambers at the Middle Temple with the view of being called to the common law bar but eventually devoted himself to civil law and having taken the degree of D C L at Oxford 19 October 1787 was admitted to the College of Advocates on 3 November 1788 Having made himself useful to Burke in preparing the preliminary case against Warren Hastings he was retained as counsel in 1788 by the managers of the impeachment together with William Scott for colleague He took no part in the proceedings in Westminster Hall beyond attending and watching their progress but gave advice in chambers His practice in ecclesiastical and admiralty courts thenceforward grew rapidly He remained on intimate terms with Burke until his death and was his literary executor In 1796 he was appointed through the interest of the Duke of Portland regius professor of civil law at Oxford in succession to Thomas Francis Wenman and the same year through the influence of Burke with Earl Fitzwilliam entered parliament as member for Peterborough His speeches in parliament heavy and simply followed Burke s line except in matters of international law In opposing the union with Ireland he insisted that Burke had he lived would have done so likewise Laurence was a member of the committee appointed in 1806 to frame the articles of impeachment against Henry Dundas 1st Viscount Melville the last such case He was chancellor of the diocese of Oxford and a judge of the court of admiralty of the Cinque ports He died suddenly on 26 February 1809 while on a visit to one of his brothers at Eltham Kent and was buried in Eltham Church where a marble tablet was placed to his memory Laurence did not marry His leisure time he spent in society he was a member of the Eumelean Club or in writing Works EditWhile pursuing his legal studies he wrote political ballads in aid of Charles James Fox s candidature for Westminster in 1784 and contributed to the Rolliad the advertisements and dedication Criticisms iii vi vii viii xiii and xiv in the first part vii in the second part Probationary Odes xvi and xxi and the first of the Political Eclogues viz Rose or the Complaint His letters to Burke were published and edited by his brother in The Epistolary Correspondence of the Right Hon Edmund Burke and Dr French Laurence London 1827 His Poetical Remains published with those of his brother Richard Dublin 1872 include some odes and a few sonnets and some translations from the Greek Latin and Italian Laurence was also a frequent contributor to the Gentleman s Magazine His dabblings in theology appeared as Critical Remarks on Detached Passages of the New Testament particularly the Revelation of St John Oxford 1810 edited by his brother References Edit Leigh Rayment s Historical List of MPs Constituencies beginning with P part 1 Mr French Laurence Former MP for PeterboroughSources Edit This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Laurence French Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 External links EditWorks by French Laurence at Project Gutenberg Works by or about French Laurence at Internet Archive Hansard 1803 2005 contributions in Parliament by French LaurenceParliament of Great BritainPreceded byRichard BenyonLionel Damer Member of Parliament for Peterborough1796 1800 With Lionel Damer Succeeded byParliament of the United KingdomParliament of the United KingdomPreceded byParliament of Great Britain Member of Parliament for Peterborough1801 1809 With Lionel Damer to 1802William Elliot from 1802 Succeeded byMarquess of TavistockWilliam Elliot Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title French Laurence amp oldid 1061456107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
