Family and Education
b. 4 Mar. 1651, o. s. of John Somers of College Churchyard, Worcester by Catherine, da. of John Severne of Powick, Worcs. educ. King’s, Worcester; Sheriff Hales, Salop (Mr John Woodhouse); Walsall g.s. Staffs.; Trinity, Oxf. 1667; M. Temple 1669, called 1676, bencher 1689, reader 1690, treasurer 1690–1. unm. suc. fa. 1681; Kntd. 31 Oct. 1689; cr. Baron Somers 2 Dec. 1697. W. L. Sachse, Ld. Somers, 1–5.
Offices Held

Standing counsel to dean and chapter, Worcester 1681; freeman, Worcester Sept. 1688, Nov. 1688, recorder 1688–d.; freeman, Gloucester 1688, recorder 1690–d.; recorder, Orford by 1692–? Sachse, 20; Hereford and Worcester RO (Worcester) Worcester chamber order bk. 1679–1721, pp. 35, 51; D. Lemmings, Gent. and Barristers, 238; W. Suss. RO, Shillinglee mss Ac454/951, Nathaniel Gooding to Sir Edward Turnor*, 27 Aug. 1692.

Trustee Droitwich workhouse (later hosp.) 1688; commr. finishing St. Paul’s cathedral 1692, Greenwich Hosp. 1695; gov. Charterhouse by 1696; member, New England Co. by 1698; trustee, Reigate par. lib. 1708, for poor Palatines 1709. Nash, Worcs. i. 328; CSP Dom. 1691–2, p. 267; 1695, p. 73; Al. Carth. 57; W. Kellaway, New England Co. 301; W. Hooper, Reigate, 63; Boyer, viii. app. p. 40.

Solicitor-gen. 1689– May 1692; attorney-gen. May 1692–Mar. 1693; PC 23 Mar. 1693–Mar. 1702, 25 Nov. 1708–d., ld. pres. 1708–10; ld. keeper Mar. 1693–7; ld. chancellor Apr. 1697–1700; ld. justice 12 May–10 Oct. 1695, 1 May–6 Oct. 1696, 25 Apr.–16 Nov. 1697, 20 July–3 Dec. 1698, 2 June–18 Oct. 1699.

Commr. preventing export of wool 1689–92, union with Scotland 1706; chairman, cttee. supply and ways and means 9 Oct. 1690–3. CJ, xv. 262.

FRS 1698, pres. 1698–1703.

Main residence: Pump Court, the Middle Temple.
Author
Volume
Commons 1690-1715
Web Title

SOMERS, Sir John (1651-1716)

Will
Estates
Oxford 1644
No
Addresses
Religion
Image