The son of Mary and Charles Viner, a draper of Salisbury, he was baptised at the church of St Thomas, Salisbury, on 3 November 1678. He studied for a time at Oxford, where he matriculated at Hart Hall on 19 February 1695. He then resided at Aldershot, Hampshire, and had chambers in the Temple (King's Bench Walk), but was not called to the bar.[1] He married Raleigh Weekes (1681–1761), a descendant of Walter Raleigh, on 16 November 1699 at Saint Ethelburga's church in Bishopsgate in London.[2] There were no children from the marriage.
Viner died at Aldershot on 5 June 1756.[1] He and his wife are buried in the churchyard of St Michael's church in Aldershot and have a memorial plaque inside the church.[3]
Legacyedit
By his will, dated 29 December 1755, Viner left the remainder copies of the Abridgment and his residuary real and personal estate (value about £12,000) to the University of Oxford upon trusts. Effect was given to the bequest by the endowment of the Vinerian common-law chair, scholarships, and fellowships. The first professor was Sir William Blackstone.[1]
Viner's Abridgmentedit
Title page of Viner's A General Abridgment of Law and Equity
Viner devoted half a century to the compilation of A General Abridgment of Law and Equity. Alphabetically digested under proper Titles, with Notes and References to the whole, Aldershot, 1742–53, 23 vols. folio. It was printed on a press at his home in Aldershot on paper manufactured under Viner's own direction with his initials 'C.V.' in the watermark.[3]
Based on the work of Viner's predecessor Henry Rolle, but built up from other material, it is a vast encyclopædia of legal lore. An Alphabetical Index was compiled by Robert Kelham (1758). A second edition of the work, including the index, appeared at London in 1791–4, 24 vols., and was followed by a supplement by several hands, entitled An Abridgment of the Modern Determinations in the Courts of Law and Equity, London, 1799–1806, 6 vols.[1]
This laborious author spent nearly fifty years upon his Abridgment, the most voluminous production of any single individual in the whole bibliography of the Common Law. Whatever is to be found in the old Abridgments, or in all printed and several MS. Reports anterior to Geo. III., Mr. Viner has translated, abridged, remodelled, and introduced or referred to in his work. The author is thought, by Mr. Hargrave, to have erred in making Rolle's Abridgment the basis of his. The character of Mr. Viner's performance is thus given by Mr. Justice Story. "It is a cumbersome compilation, by no means accurate or complete in its citations, and difficult to use, from the irregularity with which the matter is distributed, and from the inadequacy, and sometimes the inaptness of the subdivisions. Indeed, every thing appears to have been thrown into it, without any successful attempt at method or exactness. Almost every thing valuable in the old Abridgments is, indeed, to be found in it, but sometimes so ill arranged, that the search is almost as troublesome as it would be to run over the whole title in Fitz-herbert or Brooke. Its principal merit is its extent; and, though in some points it is redundant, in others defective, and in all irregular, it is a vast Index of the law, which time and patience can master; and it often rewards the labour when all other resources have failed." As to the authority of the Abridgment, Foster, J., says - "Brother Viner is not an authority. Cite the Cases that Viner quotes—that you may do." Mr. Hoffman observes, "that Abridgments are to be regarded with a suspicion of their accuracy; and that the writer who abridges least is most to be relied on; hence Viner, as the repository of certain and ample information, is, perhaps, of all others, except the books of Reports, the safest for reference." Furthermore, there are a good many determinations in his publication, either not at all, or not so fully and accurately reported elsewhere, which are generally received as authority. The volume devoted to Evidence was separately published, of which Professor Whiteside remarks: "When a question of Evidence, of any novelty or difficulty arises, fail not to search the 12th vol., of the last edition of Viner's Abridgment." 1 Leg. Rep. 298; Pref. 18 Viner; 6 N. A. Rev. 74; (23)9; 1 Co. Lit. 45, a; 3 Co. Lit. 9 a, n 3; Woodesson's Elements, 175; 1 Kent, 510; Bridg. Bib. 350; 1 Burr. 364; 1 Hoff. Leg. Stu. 388;[5] 2 Ves. Jr., 159; 1 Sch. & Lef. 380; Warren's L. S. 780.[6]
Referencesedit
Viner, C. A General Abridgment of Law and Equity, Alphabetically Digested under proper Titles; with Notes and References to the Whole. 23 vols. fol. Aldershot. 1742 - 53. 2d ed. 24 vols. 8vo. London. 1791 - 94.
^ London, England, Church of England Baptisms, Marriages and Burials, 1538-1812 for Charles Viner - City of London, St Ethelburga, Bishopsgate (1671-1722)
^ abFrederic Madden, Bulkeley Bandinel(eds) [1]Collectanea Topographica Et Genealogica, Volume 7, John Bowyer Nichols and Son, London (1841) - Google Books pg. 217
^Marvin, J.G. Legal Bibliography, or a thesaurus of American, English, Irish and Scotch law books: together with some continental treatises. T & J W Johnson. 1847. Pages 711 and 712.
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Charles Viner 1678 5 June 1756 was an English jurist known as the author of Viner s Abridgment and the benefactor of the Vinerian chair and the Vinerian Scholarship at the University of Oxford The memorial to Charles Viner his wife Raleigh Viner and brother in law John Elwes Weekes in St Michael s church in Aldershot Contents 1 Life 2 Legacy 3 Viner s Abridgment 4 References 5 NotesLife editThe son of Mary and Charles Viner a draper of Salisbury he was baptised at the church of St Thomas Salisbury on 3 November 1678 He studied for a time at Oxford where he matriculated at Hart Hall on 19 February 1695 He then resided at Aldershot Hampshire and had chambers in the Temple King s Bench Walk but was not called to the bar 1 He married Raleigh Weekes 1681 1761 a descendant of Walter Raleigh on 16 November 1699 at Saint Ethelburga s church in Bishopsgate in London 2 There were no children from the marriage Viner died at Aldershot on 5 June 1756 1 He and his wife are buried in the churchyard of St Michael s church in Aldershot and have a memorial plaque inside the church 3 Legacy editBy his will dated 29 December 1755 Viner left the remainder copies of the Abridgment and his residuary real and personal estate value about 12 000 to the University of Oxford upon trusts Effect was given to the bequest by the endowment of the Vinerian common law chair scholarships and fellowships The first professor was Sir William Blackstone 1 Viner s Abridgment edit nbsp Title page of Viner s A General Abridgment of Law and EquityViner devoted half a century to the compilation of A General Abridgment of Law and Equity Alphabetically digested under proper Titles with Notes and References to the whole Aldershot 1742 53 23 vols folio It was printed on a press at his home in Aldershot on paper manufactured under Viner s own direction with his initials C V in the watermark 3 Based on the work of Viner s predecessor Henry Rolle but built up from other material it is a vast encyclopaedia of legal lore An Alphabetical Index was compiled by Robert Kelham 1758 A second edition of the work including the index appeared at London in 1791 4 24 vols and was followed by a supplement by several hands entitled An Abridgment of the Modern Determinations in the Courts of Law and Equity London 1799 1806 6 vols 1 J G Marvin wrote of it 4 This laborious author spent nearly fifty years upon his Abridgment the most voluminous production of any single individual in the whole bibliography of the Common Law Whatever is to be found in the old Abridgments or in all printed and several MS Reports anterior to Geo III Mr Viner has translated abridged remodelled and introduced or referred to in his work The author is thought by Mr Hargrave to have erred in making Rolle s Abridgment the basis of his The character of Mr Viner s performance is thus given by Mr Justice Story It is a cumbersome compilation by no means accurate or complete in its citations and difficult to use from the irregularity with which the matter is distributed and from the inadequacy and sometimes the inaptness of the subdivisions Indeed every thing appears to have been thrown into it without any successful attempt at method or exactness Almost every thing valuable in the old Abridgments is indeed to be found in it but sometimes so ill arranged that the search is almost as troublesome as it would be to run over the whole title in Fitz herbert or Brooke Its principal merit is its extent and though in some points it is redundant in others defective and in all irregular it is a vast Index of the law which time and patience can master and it often rewards the labour when all other resources have failed As to the authority of the Abridgment Foster J says Brother Viner is not an authority Cite the Cases that Viner quotes that you may do Mr Hoffman observes that Abridgments are to be regarded with a suspicion of their accuracy and that the writer who abridges least is most to be relied on hence Viner as the repository of certain and ample information is perhaps of all others except the books of Reports the safest for reference Furthermore there are a good many determinations in his publication either not at all or not so fully and accurately reported elsewhere which are generally received as authority The volume devoted to Evidence was separately published of which Professor Whiteside remarks When a question of Evidence of any novelty or difficulty arises fail not to search the 12th vol of the last edition of Viner s Abridgment 1 Leg Rep 298 Pref 18 Viner 6 N A Rev 74 23 9 1 Co Lit 45 a 3 Co Lit 9 a n 3 Woodesson s Elements 175 1 Kent 510 Bridg Bib 350 1 Burr 364 1 Hoff Leg Stu 388 5 2 Ves Jr 159 1 Sch amp Lef 380 Warren s L S 780 6 References editViner C A General Abridgment of Law and Equity Alphabetically Digested under proper Titles with Notes and References to the Whole 23 vols fol Aldershot 1742 53 2d ed 24 vols 8vo London 1791 94 Notes edit a b c d Lee Sidney ed 1899 Viner Charles Dictionary of National Biography Vol 58 London Smith Elder amp Co London England Church of England Baptisms Marriages and Burials 1538 1812 for Charles Viner City of London St Ethelburga Bishopsgate 1671 1722 a b Frederic Madden Bulkeley Bandinel eds 1 Collectanea Topographica Et Genealogica Volume 7 John Bowyer Nichols and Son London 1841 Google Books pg 217 Marvin J G Legal Bibliography or a thesaurus of American English Irish and Scotch law books together with some continental treatises T amp J W Johnson 1847 Page 711 from Google Books Google Books Marvin J G Legal Bibliography or a thesaurus of American English Irish and Scotch law books together with some continental treatises T amp J W Johnson 1847 Pages 711 and 712 Attribution nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Lee Sidney ed 1899 Viner Charles Dictionary of National Biography Vol 58 London Smith Elder amp Co Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Viner jurist amp oldid 1192286370 Viner s Abridgment, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
