Mansfield

Mansfield, William Mueeay, Eael op (1705-93), was a son of the fifth Viscount Stormont. He left Scotland in his fourteenth year for Westminster school, whence he was elected to Christ Church. In 1730 he was called to the bar, and first acquired a name by his defence of the city of Edinburgh in the matter of the Porteous riots. In 1742 he became Solicitor-General, and twelve years later first law officer and leader of the House of Commons; but in 1756, by accepting the Chief Justiceship he abandoned a purely political career.

None the less he sat in every cabinet till 1783. and was the chief defender in the House of Lords of Lord North's Government. He was created Baron in 1756, and Earl in 1776, but twice refused the Chancellor-Ship. As a judge Mansfield is regarded as the founder of commercial law. In 1788 he resigned the Chief Justiceship, and died five years later.