Matthew Skinner (22 October 1689 – 21 October 1749) was an English serjeant-at-law, judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1734 to 1738.
Skinner was called to the bar on 21 April 1716, and joined the Oxford circuit. In 1719 he purchased from Simon Urling (later recorder of London), a place as one of the four common pleaders of the city of London, who then enjoyed the exclusive right and privilege of practising in the lord mayor's court. He was chosen as recorder of Oxford on 30 May 1721 and gave up his place as common pleader in 1722 to Thomas Garrard (later common serjeant of London).[3]
Skinner's practice grew rapidly, and he was called to the rank of serjeant-at-law in Easter term, 1 February 1724, was made one of the king's serjeants on 11 June 1728, and became his majesty's prime (or first) serjeant by letters patent on 12 May 1734. He served as treasurer of Serjeants' Inn in 1728.[3]
After trying unsuccessfully to enter parliament for Andover at the 1727 British general election, Skinner, who lived at Oxford from 1722 to 1739, was chosen Member of Parliament for the Oxford constituency at the general election of 1734. He was chosen as a Tory, but he soon went over to the Government. On 16 May 1737, he spoke in favour of the bill against the provost and city of Edinburgh after the Porteous riots.[4]
Skinner was appointed chief justice of Chester, and of the great sessions for the counties of Flint, Denbigh, and Montgomery and vacated his seat in Parliament on 26 November 1738. He occupied this judicial position, together with the recordership of Oxford, for the rest of his life. He was the second counsel for the Crown in the prosecution of Jacobite rebels on the northern circuit in July 1746; and led for the crown at Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerinoch's trial in the House of Lords the same year.[3]
Skinner died at Oxford on 21 October 1749, and was buried in Oxford Cathedral.[3]
Worksedit
Skinner published his father's Reports of Cases decided in the Court of King's Bench, 33 Charles II to 9 William III in 1728.[3]
Familyedit
Skinner married, in 1719, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Whitfield of Watford Place, Hertfordshire. His eldest son died on 8 April 1735; while another son, Matthew Skinner, was also a barrister of Lincoln's Inn.[3]
Notesedit
^Foster, Joseph. "Shield-Smethurst in Alumni Oxonienses 1500-1714 pp. 1350-1368". British History Online. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
^Admissions Register VOL 1 1420-1799. The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn. 1896.
matthew, skinner, october, 1689, october, 1749, english, serjeant, judge, politician, house, commons, from, 1734, 1738, contents, life, works, family, noteslife, edita, great, grandson, bishop, robert, skinner, skinner, born, october, 1689, third, youngest, ro. Matthew Skinner 22 October 1689 21 October 1749 was an English serjeant at law judge and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1734 to 1738 Contents 1 Life 2 Works 3 Family 4 NotesLife editA great grandson of Bishop Robert Skinner Skinner was born on 22 October 1689 the third and youngest son of Robert Skinner of Welton Northamptonshire and of the Inner Temple His father was judge of the Marshalsea court and law reporter Skinner entered Westminster School at the age of 14 Elected to a studentship at Christ Church Oxford he matriculated on 18 June 1709 1 and entered Lincoln s Inn on 20 June 1709 2 Skinner was called to the bar on 21 April 1716 and joined the Oxford circuit In 1719 he purchased from Simon Urling later recorder of London a place as one of the four common pleaders of the city of London who then enjoyed the exclusive right and privilege of practising in the lord mayor s court He was chosen as recorder of Oxford on 30 May 1721 and gave up his place as common pleader in 1722 to Thomas Garrard later common serjeant of London 3 Skinner s practice grew rapidly and he was called to the rank of serjeant at law in Easter term 1 February 1724 was made one of the king s serjeants on 11 June 1728 and became his majesty s prime or first serjeant by letters patent on 12 May 1734 He served as treasurer of Serjeants Inn in 1728 3 After trying unsuccessfully to enter parliament for Andover at the 1727 British general election Skinner who lived at Oxford from 1722 to 1739 was chosen Member of Parliament for the Oxford constituency at the general election of 1734 He was chosen as a Tory but he soon went over to the Government On 16 May 1737 he spoke in favour of the bill against the provost and city of Edinburgh after the Porteous riots 4 Skinner was appointed chief justice of Chester and of the great sessions for the counties of Flint Denbigh and Montgomery and vacated his seat in Parliament on 26 November 1738 He occupied this judicial position together with the recordership of Oxford for the rest of his life He was the second counsel for the Crown in the prosecution of Jacobite rebels on the northern circuit in July 1746 and led for the crown at Arthur Elphinstone 6th Lord Balmerinoch s trial in the House of Lords the same year 3 Skinner died at Oxford on 21 October 1749 and was buried in Oxford Cathedral 3 Works editSkinner published his father s Reports of Cases decided in the Court of King s Bench 33 Charles II to 9 William III in 1728 3 Family editSkinner married in 1719 Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Whitfield of Watford Place Hertfordshire His eldest son died on 8 April 1735 while another son Matthew Skinner was also a barrister of Lincoln s Inn 3 Notes edit Foster Joseph Shield Smethurst in Alumni Oxonienses 1500 1714 pp 1350 1368 British History Online Retrieved 27 April 2019 Admissions Register VOL 1 1420 1799 The Honourable Society of Lincoln s Inn 1896 a b c d e f Lee Sidney ed 1897 Skinner Matthew Dictionary of National Biography Vol 52 London Smith Elder amp Co SKINNER Matthew 1689 1749 of St John the Baptist s Oxford History of Parliament Online Retrieved 27 April 2019 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1897 Skinner Matthew Dictionary of National Biography Vol 52 London Smith Elder amp Co Parliament of Great BritainPreceded byThomas Rowney juniorFrancis Knollys Member of Parliament for Oxford1734 1738 With Thomas Rowney junior Succeeded byThomas Rowney juniorJames Herbert Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Matthew Skinner amp oldid 1158173797, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
