John Lind (barrister)

John Lind (1737 – 1781) was an English barrister, political activist, and pamphleteer who opposed the American Revolution.

He was educated at Balliol College of Oxford, receiving an MA in 1761. While there he began a long association and friendship with Jeremy Bentham^[1] He was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, and in November 1773 was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.^[2]

Early life

He was born on 13 August 1737, was the only son of the Rev. Charles Lind, D.D. His father was vicar of West Mersea 1738–48, rector of Wivenhoe 1750–1771, and rector of Paglesham 1752–71, all livings in Essex. He married a Miss Porter of Winchester, and died 6 March 1771, leaving his livings sequestrated and two daughters.^[3]

John Lind matriculated on 22 May 1753 at Balliol College, Oxford, graduating B.A. 1757, M.A. 1761. About 1758 he took deacon's orders in the Church of England, and a few years later accompanied John Murray on his embassy to Constantinople in the capacity of chaplain, but as "too agreeable to his Excellency's mistress" was dismissed from his post.^[3]

In Poland

Lind then went to Warsaw, where he dropped his clerical pretensions and became tutor to Prince Stanisław Poniatowski. He was noticed by King Stanisław August Poniatowski, who made him governor of an institution for educating cadets, and the title of privy councillor. In 1773, after the First Partition of Poland, he returned to England with a pension from the king, and added to his income by reading to Prince Czartoryski, the king's uncle.^[3]

In England

Lind was burdened by his father's debts and by the support of his sisters, Mary and Lætitia, who had a boarding-school for girls at Colchester. He was received by Lord North, then prime minister, and was a familiar figure at the card-parties of Henrietta Maria North, wife of Brownlow North. The king of Poland had given him letters of introduction to Lord Mansfield, by whom he was employed to advocate his political views, and through whose management he was admitted at Lincoln's Inn 23 June 1773, and called to the bar in 1776. Lind, already an F.S.A., was elected F.R.S. in 1773.^[3]

Among Lind's close friends was Jeremy Bentham, who gave the bride away on Lind's marriage at St Andrew's, Holborn. Lind wanted to enter parliament, but failed. After some years mainly spent in pamphleteering, he died in Lamb's Conduit Street, London, on 12 January 1781, and was buried in Long Ditton churchyard, in Surrey, where a white marble scroll, with an inscription by Sir Herbert Croft, was placed to his memory on the outside of the north wall of the church.^[3]

Works

Lind's first publication was Letters concerning the Present State of Poland (anon.), 1773, 2nd ed. 1773, against the First Partition of Poland. He was supported in writing it by Lord Mansfield and Viscount Stormont.^[4] His other works were:^[3]

• Remarks on the Principal Acts of the Thirteenth Parliament of Great Britain, vol. i. containing remarks on the acts relating to the American colonies (the Intolerable Acts), with a plan of reconciliation, 1775. Samuel Parr praised this work as a defence of the British case against the colonists, and Bentham claimed to have made its outline.
• An Answer to the Declaration of the American Congress (anon.), 1776. On the Declaration of Independence. Bentham's supposed involvement with the content has been seen as evidence of his early commitment against natural rights.^[5]
• Three Letters to Dr. Price, containing Remarks on his Observations on the Nature of Civil Liberty, by a Member of Lincoln's Inn, 1776. Abusive attack on Richard Price.^[6]
• Defence of Lord Pigot (anon.), 1777. On behalf of George Pigot, 1st Baron Pigot.
• A Letter to the Rt. Hon. Willoughby Bertie, by descent Earl of Abingdon, in which his candid and liberal treatment of the new Earl of Mansfield is fully vindicated (anon.), 1778. A satirical reply to Lord Abingdon's attack on Lord Mansfield.

For his works in justification of the American War of Independence a pension is said to have been conferred on each of his Lind's sisters.^[3]

Two papers on ancient monuments and fortifications in Scotland were communicated to Archæologia through Lind. His defence of Bentham's Fragment on Government appeared in the Morning Chronicle, 26 July 1776, and was reproduced in Bentham's Works, i. 258–9. A reply from Sir James Wright on Lord Bute's action and opinions is said by Horace Walpole to have been written by Lind.^[3]

Family

Lind's pension was continued to his widow, and paid regularly until 1794, when delays’ were arose. These were solved by Bentham, who entered into correspondence with the czar of Russia on the subject. Lind had brought to England an illegitimate daughter, and at his death she and his two sisters were left destitute. Croft solicited a subscription for them and for the widow, who refused to accept it. Elizabeth, another of his sisters, married Captain William Borthwick, of the artillery, and died 2 May 1764, aged 29.^[3]

Notes

1. H.L.A. Hart; "Essays on Bentham: Jurisprudence and Political Theory", New York; Oxford University Press, 1982; page 55.
2. "Library and Archive catalogue". Royal Society. Retrieved 8 November 2010.
3.  "Lind, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.
4. Scott, H. M. "Murray, David". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/19600. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
5. Bhikhu Parekh (1974). Jeremy Bentham: Ten Critical Essays. Taylor & Francis. p. 156. ISBN 978-0-7146-2959-9. Retrieved 23 February 2013.
6. Richard Price; Bernard Peach (1979). Richard Price and the Ethical Foundations of the American Revolution: Selections from His Pamphlets, With Appendices. Duke University Press. pp. 235–241. ISBN 978-0-8223-0400-5. Retrieved 23 February 2013.

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "Lind, John". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.