The early death of Fortescue's wife prompted him to become a barrister,[6] and he was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1714, and transferred to the Inner Temple later in the same year before his call to the Bar in July 1715.[4]
As well as his work as a barrister and judge, Fortescue was also involved in the London literary scene, having been introduced by his school friend John Gay to Alexander Pope, and he became a founding member of the Scriblerus Club.[4] He was a co-author with Pope of "Stradling versus Stiles", and Pope dedicated his Imitation of the First Satire of Horace to him.[8]
Marriage and childrenedit
On 7 July 1709 he married his cousin, Mary Fortescue (d.1710), daughter of Edmund Fortescue (1660–1734) of East Allington, from a junior branch of the Fortescues of Fallapit in the parish of East Allington,[9] Devon, descended from Sir Henry Fortescue (fl. 1426), Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland, who had married the heiress of Fallapit.[5] Mary died an early death on 1 August 1710 and her monument exists in St Andrew's Church, East Allington.[10] Mary and William had a daughter, who was their sole heiress:[6]
Mary Fortescue (1710–1752), who inherited the estate of Fallapit from her mother.[10] She married John Spooner and produced an only daughter Mary Fortescue (d.1747) who died an infant.[10]
Deathedit
Fortescue died on 16 December 1749 aged 63 and was buried in the Rolls Chapel in London, where exists his monument.[10]
^ abcdef"Oxford DNB article: Fortescue, William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/9950. Retrieved 7 June 2009. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
william, fortescue, judge, other, people, named, william, fortescue, william, fortescue, disambiguation, william, fortescue, 1687, december, 1749, buckland, filleigh, devon, british, judge, master, rolls, 1741, 1749, right, honourablesir, william, fortescuemas. For other people named William Fortescue see William Fortescue disambiguation Sir William Fortescue PC KC 1687 16 December 1749 of Buckland Filleigh 1 Devon was a British judge and Master of the Rolls 1741 1749 The Right HonourableSir William FortescueMaster of the RollsIn office 5 November 1741 16 December 1749Preceded bySir John VerneySucceeded bySir John StrangeAttorney General for the Duchy of CornwallIn office 1730 1736Preceded byWilliam LeeSucceeded byRobert PauncefortPersonal detailsBorn1687Died16 December 1749 1749 12 16 aged 61 62 NationalityBritishAlma materTrinity College OxfordProfessionBarrister judge politician Contents 1 Origins 2 Education 3 Judicial career 4 Literary career 5 Marriage and children 6 Death 7 Arms 8 References 9 BibliographyOrigins editFortescue was the only son and heir of Henry Fortescue 1659 1691 of Buckland Filleigh by his wife Agnes Dennis daughter of Edward Dennis of Barnstaple North Devon 2 The manor of Buckland Filleigh had been acquired by his 6 times great grandfather William Fortescue d 1548 3 the 2nd son of Martin Fortescue d 1472 who had married the heiress of Filleigh later the seat of his descendant Earl Fortescue and Weare Giffard Martin was the son and heir of Sir John Fortescue c 1394 c 1480 of Ebrington in Gloucestershire Chief Justice of the King s Bench of England and the author of De Laudibus Legum Angliae 4 and was the nephew of the latter s elder brother Sir Henry Fortescue fl 1426 Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland 5 Education editFortescue was educated at Barnstaple Grammar School in North Devon where he met the poet John Gay 1685 1732 who become a lifelong friend He matriculated at Trinity College Oxford in 1705 Judicial career editThe early death of Fortescue s wife prompted him to become a barrister 6 and he was admitted to the Middle Temple in 1714 and transferred to the Inner Temple later in the same year before his call to the Bar in July 1715 4 Fortescue was a sound and businesslike barrister 6 and a good lawyer 4 and built up a strong practice He first became involved in politics in 1724 when Robert Walpole Chancellor of the Exchequer employed him as his secretary In 1727 he was returned as a Member of Parliament for Newport on the Isle of Wight and despite his duties in Parliament and as secretary to Walpole he continued his practice as a barrister 6 In 1730 he became a King s Counsel and in the same year was made Attorney General to the Duchy of Cornwall On 9 February 1736 he was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer having resigned as an MP and as Attorney General 6 He was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas on 7 July 1738 replacing John Comyns 7 and on 5 November 1741 he succeeded Sir John Verney as Master of the Rolls and became a Privy Councillor on 19 November 6 He remained Master of the Rolls until his death on 15 December 1749 Literary career editAs well as his work as a barrister and judge Fortescue was also involved in the London literary scene having been introduced by his school friend John Gay to Alexander Pope and he became a founding member of the Scriblerus Club 4 He was a co author with Pope of Stradling versus Stiles and Pope dedicated his Imitation of the First Satire of Horace to him 8 Marriage and children editOn 7 July 1709 he married his cousin Mary Fortescue d 1710 daughter of Edmund Fortescue 1660 1734 of East Allington from a junior branch of the Fortescues of Fallapit in the parish of East Allington 9 Devon descended from Sir Henry Fortescue fl 1426 Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in Ireland who had married the heiress of Fallapit 5 Mary died an early death on 1 August 1710 and her monument exists in St Andrew s Church East Allington 10 Mary and William had a daughter who was their sole heiress 6 Mary Fortescue 1710 1752 who inherited the estate of Fallapit from her mother 10 She married John Spooner and produced an only daughter Mary Fortescue d 1747 who died an infant 10 Death editFortescue died on 16 December 1749 aged 63 and was buried in the Rolls Chapel in London where exists his monument 10 Arms editCoat of arms of Sir William Fortescue nbsp Escutcheon Azure a bend engrailed argent plain cottised or Motto Forte Scutum Salus Ducum Latin for A Strong Shield is the Salvation of Leaders 11 References edit Pevsner Nikolaus amp Cherry Bridget The Buildings of England Devon London 2004 p 230 Vivian Lt Col J L Ed The Visitations of the County of Devon Comprising the Heralds Visitations of 1531 1564 amp 1620 Exeter 1895 p 360 Vivian pp 353 360 pedigree of Fortescue of Buckland Filleigh a b c d Foss 1870 p 278 a b Vivian p 353 a b c d e f Oxford DNB article Fortescue William Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press 2004 doi 10 1093 ref odnb 9950 Retrieved 7 June 2009 Subscription or UK public library membership required Foss 1865 p 77 Fleet Street Northern tributaries Shoe Lane and Bell Yard British History Online Retrieved 8 June 2009 Vivian p 360 p 366 Fortescue of Fallapit a b c d Vivian p 360 P W Montague Smith ed 1968 Debrett s Peerage Baronetage Knightage and Companionage 1968 With Her Majesty s Royal Warrant Holders Comprises Information Concerning the Peerage Privy Councillors Baronets Knights and Companions of Orders Surrey Kelly s Directories p 461 OCLC 8972816 Bibliography editFoss Edward 1865 Tabulae Curiales Tables of the Superior Courts of Westminster Hall Foss Edward 1870 A Biographical Dictionary of the Justices of England 1066 1870 Spottiswoode and Company Parliament of Great Britain Preceded bySir William Willys George Huxley Member of Parliament for Newport Isle of Wight 1727 1736 With George Huxley Succeeded byViscount Boyle George Huxley Legal offices Preceded byJohn Comyns Baron of the Exchequer9 February 1736 7 July 1738 Succeeded byThomas Parker Preceded byJohn Comyns Justice of the Common Pleas7 July 1738 5 November 1741 Succeeded byThomas Burnet Preceded bySir John Verney Master of the Rolls5 November 1741 15 December 1749 Succeeded bySir John Strange Portals nbsp Biography nbsp Politics nbsp United Kingdom nbsp Law Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Fortescue judge amp oldid 1167139087, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
