MANSFIELD, WILLIAM :MURRAY, first Earl of (1705-93). A celebrated British jurist. Ile was horn March 2, 1705, the fourth son of David, Viscount Stormont. He studied at Christ Church, Oxford. took the degree of M.A. in 1730, and was called to the bar in the same year. Through the facility and force of his oratory, as well as through the clearness of his understand ing, he acquired a brilliant reputation and an extensive practice: in eases of appeal he was often employed before the House of Lords. In 1741 he was appointed by the 'Ministry Solicitor Gene•a1, entered the House of Commons as mem ber for Boroughbridge, and at once tools a high position. hi 1740 lie acted. ex-officio. as counsel against the rebel lords Lovat, Balinerino, and Kilmarnock; and in 1754 he was appointed King's Attorney. He became Chief Justice of the King's Bench in 1750. At this time lie entered the House of Lords under the title of Baron Mansfield of Mansfield in the County of Notting ham. As his opinions were not those of the
popular side, he was exposed to much abuse and party hatred. Junius. among others, bitterly attacked him ; and in the Gordon riots of 1780. his house, with all his valuable books and ma scripts, was burned. lle declined with dignity indemnification by Parliament. In 1776 he was made Earl of Mansfield. He worked hard as a judge till 1788, when age and ill health forced him to resign. His death occurred on March 20. l793. lie was a brilliant parliamentary debater, fluent, clear, and logical, and one of the greatest who ever sat on the bench. Consult: .1 General Fill» of the Decisions of Lord Mansfield (ed. by Evans, London, 1803) ; Report of Oases Argued and Adjudged in time Court of time King's Rem+ During the Time of Lord Mansfield's Presidency i» that Comu•t (Dublin, 1794) ; Life of William, Late Earl of Mansfield (London. 1797).