John Rigby (politician)
As caricatured in Vanity Fair, 31 August 1893
As caricatured by Spy (Leslie Ward) in Vanity Fair, March 1901
Sir John Rigby, PC (8 January 1834 – 26 July 1903), was a British judge and Liberal politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1885 and 1894.
Background and education
Rigby was born in Runcorn, Cheshire, the son of Thomas Rigby of Halton, Cheshire, and his wife Elizabeth Kendal.[1] He attended Liverpool College before going to Trinity College, Cambridge in 1853. He graduated as Second Wrangler in 1856, also being placed second for the Smith's Prize. He became a fellow of Trinity in 1856 and was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1860.[2][3]
Legal career
In 1875 Rigby was appointed junior counsel to the Treasury.[3] In 1881 he "took silk", becoming a Queen's Counsel.[3] He distinguished himself as an advocate, and was frequently involved in bringing appeals to the judicial committee of the House of Lords.[3] Rigby was twice briefly a Liberal Party Member of Parliament. He was elected as MP for the Wisbech division of Cambridgeshire at the 1885 general election, but lost the seat when another election was held in 1886.[4]
In 1892 Rigby returned to parliament, when he was among a number of Liberals who gained seats from the government parties in Scotland. He was elected at Forfarshire, unseating the Liberal Unionist, James Barclay.[3] He was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales in William Gladstone's new government, and received a knighthood on 26 November 1892.[5] On 3 May 1894 Rigby became Attorney General for England and Wales.[3]
On 19 October 1894 he vacated his Commons seat when he was appointed a Lord Justice of Appeal, in succession to Sir Horace Davey. He was sworn of the Privy Council at the same time.[2][3][6] He served on the Court of Appeal until his retirement in 1901,[3] when he was granted an annuity of £3,500.[7]
Personal life
A few years before his retirement, Rigby had suffered a severe fall, and never fully recovered his health. He died aged 69, unmarried, at his home at Chelsea Embankment, London in July 1903.[3]
References
- ↑ Debretts Guide to the House of Commons 1886
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir John Rigby
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26351. p. 7153. 6 December 1892.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 26563. p. 5928. 23 October 1894.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27372. p. 7144. 5 November 1901.
External links
- Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Sir John Rigby
- Portraits of John Rigby at the National Portrait Gallery, London
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| New constituency | Member of Parliament for Wisbech 1885 – 1886 |
Succeeded by Charles William Selwyn |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for Forfarshire 1892 – 1894 |
Succeeded by Charles Maule Ramsay |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Solicitor General 1892–1894 |
Succeeded by Sir Robert Reid |
| Preceded by | Attorney General 1894 |
Succeeded by Sir Robert Reid |
- Pages with broken file links
- 1834 births
- 1903 deaths
- Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge
- Attorneys General for England and Wales
- British judges
- Liberal Party (UK) MPs
- Members of Lincoln's Inn
- Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
- Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Scottish constituencies
- Second Wranglers
- Solicitors General for England and Wales
- UK MPs 1885–86
- UK MPs 1892–95
