Jurist. Born at Acton Park, Wrexham, Wales, the son of John Jeffreys and Margaret Ireland. He was educated at Shrewsbury, St Paul's, Westminster, and Cambridge before studying for the bar in 1663. He was appointed Solicitor General to James, Duke of York, before being knighted in 1677. By 1681 he became Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Recorder of the City of London, and a member of the Privy Council. In 1683, James II named him Baron Jeffreys of Wem; and he presided over many of the trials connected with the so-called Popish Plot, and was responsible for what is now regarded as the judicial murder of Algernon Sidney who had been implicated in the Rye House Plot. After the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, he was dispatched to Taunton Castle to preside over trials of the accused. In what became known as the Bloody Assizes, he ordered the transportation of 800 men to the West Indies, and condemned 320 more to death, including the Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of the late king. He was named Lord Chancellor by James II in 1685. When James II was deposed three years later, the judge, whose career was tied inextricably to the King, attempted to flee the country. He was arrested and confined to the Tower of London in protective custody. He died there of kidney disease the following year. He was originally buried in the Chapel of Saint Peter-ad-Vincule but was moved to St Mary Aldermanbury in 1692.
Jurist. Born at Acton Park, Wrexham, Wales, the son of John Jeffreys and Margaret Ireland. He was educated at Shrewsbury, St Paul's, Westminster, and Cambridge before studying for the bar in 1663. He was appointed Solicitor General to James, Duke of York, before being knighted in 1677. By 1681 he became Chief Justice of the King's Bench, Recorder of the City of London, and a member of the Privy Council. In 1683, James II named him Baron Jeffreys of Wem; and he presided over many of the trials connected with the so-called Popish Plot, and was responsible for what is now regarded as the judicial murder of Algernon Sidney who had been implicated in the Rye House Plot. After the Monmouth Rebellion of 1685, he was dispatched to Taunton Castle to preside over trials of the accused. In what became known as the Bloody Assizes, he ordered the transportation of 800 men to the West Indies, and condemned 320 more to death, including the Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of the late king. He was named Lord Chancellor by James II in 1685. When James II was deposed three years later, the judge, whose career was tied inextricably to the King, attempted to flee the country. He was arrested and confined to the Tower of London in protective custody. He died there of kidney disease the following year. He was originally buried in the Chapel of Saint Peter-ad-Vincule but was moved to St Mary Aldermanbury in 1692.
Bio by: Iola
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