John Strange (English politician)

The Right Honourable Sir John Strange KC
Master of the Rolls
In office 11 January 1750 – 18 May 1754
Nominated by	Lord Hardwicke
Preceded by	Sir William Fortescue
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Clarke
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office 28 January 1737 – December 1742
Nominated by	Lord Hardwicke
Preceded by	Sir Dudley Ryder
Succeeded by	Sir William Murray
Personal details
Born	1696
Died	18 May 1754 (aged 57–58)
Nationality	British
Profession	Barrister, judge, politician

Sir John Strange PC KC (1696 – 18 May 1754) was a British politician and judge. He was born to another John Strange and his second wife, Mary Plaistowe. He became a student at the Middle Temple on 11 July 1712 before starting a pupillage at the chambers of Charles Salkeld, who trained (among others) Lord Hardwicke.^[1] He was called to the Bar on 27 October 1718.^[2] He married Susan Strong on 14 May 1722; they had two sons and nine daughters, including John Strange, a noted diplomat and philosopher. In 1725 he represented Lord Macclesfield at his impeachment,^[1] and he was made a King's Counsel on 9 February 1736. The same year, he became a Bencher of Middle Temple.^[2]

He was appointed Solicitor General for England and Wales on 28 January 1737, and was made a Member of Parliament for West Looe to allow him to take his position.^[1] After the death of the Master of the Rolls Joseph Jekyll on 19 August 1738, Strange was invited to succeed him, but declined the offer.^[2] He became Recorder of London in November 1739, and on 12 May 1740 he was knighted, along with Dudley Ryder, the Attorney General for England and Wales. He resigned as Member of Parliament for West Looe in 1741, but was reelected for Totnes in a by-election in 1742.

In December 1742 he resigned as Recorder of London and Solicitor General, claiming il-health, and also limited his practice as a barrister to the Court of King's Bench.^[1] In 1750 Lord Hardwicke convinced him to become Master of the Rolls, and he took his position on 11 January. On 17 March he was made a Privy Councillor. He served as master of the Rolls for four years until his death on 18 May 1754 - after his death, his son John Strange published his court reports.^[1] He was buried in the Rolls Chapel,^[3] as was his successor Sir Thomas Clarke. His epitaph is

Here lies an honest lawyer,—

that is Strange.^[4]

References

1. Foss (1870) p.636
2. "Oxford DNB article: Strange, Sir John (subscription needed)". Oxford University Press. 2004. Retrieved 2009-06-07.
3. White (1892) p.450
4. Epitaphiana: or, The curiosities of churchyard literature, being a miscellaneous collection of epitaphs with an introduction giving an account of various customs prevailing amongst the ancients and moderns in the disposal of their dead (1875) 262 (p132)

Bibliography

• Foss, Edward (1870). A Biographical Dictionary of the Justices of England (1066 - 1870). Spottiswoode and Company.
• White, William (1892). Notes and queries. Oxford University Press.