Sir John Vaughan (1603-1674) was Welsh MP and one of the leaders of "country party." In 1668, he was made chief justice of the court of Common Pleas and knighted. He was a close friend of Thomas Hobbes. More at Welsh Biography Online at http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-VAUG-…
Sir John Vaughan, a man of excellent parts, was not only well versed in all the knowledge requisite to make a figure in his profession, but was also a very considerable master of the politer kinds of learning. He maintained a strict intimacy with the famous Mr. Selden, who was one of the few that had a thorough esteem for him. His behaviour among the generality of his acquaintances was haughty, supercilious, and overbearing: hence he was much more admired than beloved. He was in his heart an enemy to monarchy; but was never engaged in open hostility against Charles I. The earl of Clarendon, who had contracted some friendship with him in the early part of his life, renewed his acquaintance after the Restoration, and made him overtures of preferment: but these he waved, on a pretence of having long laid aside his gown, and his being too far advanced in life. He afterwards struck in with the enemies of his friend the chancellor, and was made lord chief-justice of the Common Pleas; an office which, though not above his abilities, was perhaps superior to his merit. He died in 1674, and was buried in the Temple-church, as near as possible to the remains of Mr. Selden. His "Reports" were published by his son Edward. ---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1779.
VAUGHAN, Sir JOHN (1603-1674), judge; of Christ Church, Oxford; barrister, Inner Temple, 1630; friend of John Selden; M.P., Cardigan, 1628, April 1640, and in the Long parliament, 1640 till expelled, 1645; consulted by Charles I at Newport, 1648; imprisoned; M.P., Cardiganshire, 1661-8; a leader of the country party; active in the impeachment of Clarendon, 1667; knighted, 1668; chief-justice of the common pleas, 1668. ---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.
In 1667, John Vaughan MP was a bencher at the Inner Temple, and I think he was one of 22 Fire Court judges responsible for sorting out the legal entanglements for the rebuilding of London, after the Great Fire of 1666. In 1668 he was promoted to be Chief Justice for the Court of Common Pleas. The Fire Court process lasted 10 years, and the judges -- to their great credit -- refused all fees. Because of their work, London was largely rebuilt in that time. For more info., see https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… for the Fire Courts, and his Parliamentary bio at https://www.historyofparliamenton…
4 Annotations
First Reading
steveh • Link
Sir John Vaughan (1603-1674) was Welsh MP and one of the leaders of "country party." In 1668, he was made chief justice of the court of Common Pleas and knighted. He was a close friend of Thomas Hobbes. More at Welsh Biography Online at http://yba.llgc.org.uk/en/s-VAUG-…
Second Reading
Bill • Link
Sir John Vaughan, a man of excellent parts, was not only well versed in all the knowledge requisite to make a figure in his profession, but was also a very considerable master of the politer kinds of learning. He maintained a strict intimacy with the famous Mr. Selden, who was one of the few that had a thorough esteem for him. His behaviour among the generality of his acquaintances was haughty, supercilious, and overbearing: hence he was much more admired than beloved. He was in his heart an enemy to monarchy; but was never engaged in open hostility against Charles I. The earl of Clarendon, who had contracted some friendship with him in the early part of his life, renewed his acquaintance after the Restoration, and made him overtures of preferment: but these he waved, on a pretence of having long laid aside his gown, and his being too far advanced in life. He afterwards struck in with the enemies of his friend the chancellor, and was made lord chief-justice of the Common Pleas; an office which, though not above his abilities, was perhaps superior to his merit. He died in 1674, and was buried in the Temple-church, as near as possible to the remains of Mr. Selden. His "Reports" were published by his son Edward.
---A Biographical History of England. J. Granger, 1779.
Bill • Link
VAUGHAN, Sir JOHN (1603-1674), judge; of Christ Church, Oxford; barrister, Inner Temple, 1630; friend of John Selden; M.P., Cardigan, 1628, April 1640, and in the Long parliament, 1640 till expelled, 1645; consulted by Charles I at Newport, 1648; imprisoned; M.P., Cardiganshire, 1661-8; a leader of the country party; active in the impeachment of Clarendon, 1667; knighted, 1668; chief-justice of the common pleas, 1668.
---Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome. S. Lee, 1906.
San Diego Sarah • Link
In 1667, John Vaughan MP was a bencher at the Inner Temple, and I think he was one of 22 Fire Court judges responsible for sorting out the legal entanglements for the rebuilding of London, after the Great Fire of 1666. In 1668 he was promoted to be Chief Justice for the Court of Common Pleas. The Fire Court process lasted 10 years, and the judges -- to their great credit -- refused all fees. Because of their work, London was largely rebuilt in that time. For more info., see
https://www.pepysdiary.com/diary/… for the Fire Courts, and his Parliamentary bio at
https://www.historyofparliamenton…