Sir Charles Wetherell (1770 – 17 August 1846) was an English lawyer, politician, and judge.

Sir Charles Wetherell
Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge
In office
1830–1832
Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle
In office
December 1826 – 1830
Member of Parliament for Hastings
In office
1826 – December 1826
Member of Parliament for Oxford
In office
1820–1826
Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury
In office
February 1813 – 1818
Member of Parliament for Rye
In office
December 1812 – February 1813
Personal details
Born1770
Oxford
Died17 August 1846 (aged 75-76)
Spouses
  • Jane Sarah Elizabeth Croke
  • Harriet Elizabeth Warneford
Parent

Life

edit

Wetherell was born in Oxford, the third son of Reverend Nathan Wetherell, of Durham, Master of the University College and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. His mother was Richarda Croke (1743?-1812), sister of Sir Alexander Croke, of Studley Priory, Oxfordshire.[1] He was educated at St Paul's School, London and matriculated at University College in 1786. He was a demy at Magdalen College, Oxford from 1788 to 1791, graduating B.A. in 1790 and M.A. in 1793.[2]

Wetherell was a Member of Parliament (MP) for a considerable period, representing Rye from 1812 to 1813, Shaftesbury from 1813 to 1818, and Oxford from 1820 to 1826. He was elected MP for Hastings in 1826 but had to stand down when appointed Attorney-General. He represented Plympton Erle from December 1826 to 1830 and Boroughbridge from 1830 to 1832.

He was Solicitor-General between 1824 and 1826 and Attorney General between 20 September 1826 and 27 April 1827, and again between 19 February 1828 and 29 June 1829. In May 1829, Wetherell made a violent speech in opposition to Catholic Emancipation, and was dismissed by the Duke of Wellington. He was Recorder of Bristol during the riots of 1831. From 1835 up to his death in 1846, he was Chancellor of Durham.

Family

edit

Wetherell was twice married, first in 1826, with his cousin Jane Sarah Elizabeth Croke (1804–1831). They had a son, Charles, who died in infancy. In 1838, he married Harriet Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Francis Warneford.

References

edit
  1. ^ Baigent, Elizabeth. "Wetherell, Sir Charles (1770–1846)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/29146. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1892). "Wetherell, (Sir) Charles" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: Parker and Co – via Wikisource.
edit
Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Rye
1812–1813
With: Thomas Phillipps Lamb
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Shaftesbury
1813–1818
With: Sir Edward Kerrison
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Oxford
18201826
With: John Ingram Lockhart
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Hastings
Jun. 1826Dec. 1826
With: Sir William Curtis, Bt
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Plympton Erle
18261830
With: Gibbs Antrobus
Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge
18301832
With: Matthias Attwood
Constituency abolished
Legal offices
Preceded by Solicitor-General for England and Wales
1824–1826
Succeeded by
Preceded by Attorney-General for England and Wales
1828–1829
Succeeded by