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'George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys of Wem', PC (May 15, 1645 – April 18, 1689), also known as "''The Hanging Judge''", became notable during the reign of King James II, rising to the position of Lord Chancellor (and serving as Lord High Steward in certain instances).
Jeffreys was born at the family estate of Acton Hall, Wrexham in Wales, the sixth son of John and Margaret Jeffreys. He was educated at Shrewsbury School; St Paul's School, London and Westminster School, London. He became an undergraduate at Cambridge University, leaving after one year and he embarked on a legal career in 1668. In 1667, he had married Sarah Neesham, by whom he had seven children before her death in 1678.
Despite his Protestant upbringing, he found favour under the Catholic Duke of York, younger brother of Charles II of England, who would later succeed Charles as James II.
Jeffreys was knighted in 1677 and by 1680 had become chief justice of Chester. Charles II created him a baronet in 1681, and two years later, he was Chief Justice of the King's Bench and a member of the Privy Council.
He presided over the trial of Algernon Sidney, who had been implicated in the Rye House Plot. Sidney was convicted and executed. James II, following his accession to the throne, elevated Jeffreys to the peerage as 'Baron Jeffreys of Wem'.
He presided over the "Bloody Assizes" at which harsh sentences were handed out to the Duke of Monmouth's followers at Monmouth's Rebellion.
James named him Lord Chancellor in 1685.
Following the Glorious Revolution, he attempted to flee the country but was captured.
He died of kidney disease while in protective custody in the Tower of London.
He was originally buried in the Chapel Royal of Saint Peter ad Vincula, Tower of London but in 1692 was moved to St Mary Aldermanbury.
His eldest son, John, succeeded him.

Contents

Literary references

Trivia

External link

Literary references

★ George Jeffreys is the colleague and nemesis of Neal Stephenson's fictional protagonist Daniel Waterhouse, in his 2003 novel ''Quicksilver''.

★ The ghost of Judge Jeffreys acts as the villain in Peter S. Beagle's 1999 novel ''Tamsin'', which is set in modern-day Dorset.

★ "The Devil in Wig and Gown" sits in judgement over the hero near the conclusion of Arthur Conan Doyle's historical novel Micah Clarke.

★ A Jeffreys-like figure haunts "The Judge's House" in Bram Stoker's short story, which was influenced by two earlier, similar stories by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu: "An Account of Some Strange Disturbances in Aungier Street" (1853), which was revised and retitled "Mr. Justice Harbottle" (1872).

★ Jeffreys sentences Dr. Peter Blood, main hero of Rafael Sabatini's Captain Blood novel, for aiding wounded Monmouth rebels, with transportation. During the trial he is almost struck with apoplexy, due to the exchange with brave and quick-witted Blood.

★ Jeffreys plays an important role in R. D. Blackmore's historical romance, ''Lorna Doone'', which was set during the time of the Monmouth Rebellion.

★ Jeffreys presides over the trial of the murderer George Martin, in M R James' ghost story ''Martin's Close''.

★ Jefferies is referenced in passing in Patrick O'Brian's 1986 novel, ''The Reverse of the Medal'' (the novel is set in the early 19th century; Jeffrey's notoriety as a judge is given by Dr. Maturin as an example of why Captain Aubrey shouldn't blindly assume that his trial for stock fraud will be entirely fair)

★ From Victor Hugo's 1869 The Man Who Laughs, set in the 17th century, chapter 2, "English legislation did not trifle in those days. It did not take much to make a man a felon. The magistrates were ferocious by tradition, and cruelty was a matter of routine. The judges of assize increased and multiplied. Jeffreys had become a breed."

★ Christopher Lee plays a character based on Jeffreys in the 1970 film ''The Bloody Judge''.

Trivia

★ Jeffries held the assizes in the Great Hall of Taunton Castle, current home of the Somerset county museum.

External link

★ George Jeffreys at Find-A-Grave