Nicholas Conyngham Tindal
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Nicholas Conyngham Tindal (12 December, 1776-6 July, 1846) was a celebrated English lawyer who successfully defended Queen Caroline at her trial for adultery in 1820. He was later made Lord Chief Justice of Common Pleas, an office he held with distinction from 1829 to 1846.
Judge Tindal was born at a house in Moulsham, near Chelmsford, where 199 Moulsham Street is today, and the site is marked with a commemorative plaque. He was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School in his home town of Chelmsford, and later at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he had a distinguished academic record. A statue to him stands in his home town, and a house at his old school is now dedicated to his memory.
He served as a Tory MP for the Scottish constituency of Wigtown Burghs from 1824 to 1826.
He famously presided at the trial of Daniel M’Naghten. The verdict of "Not Guilty on the ground of insanity" became a crucial precedent in English Common law.
[edit] References
- This page incorporates information from Leigh Rayment's Peerage Page.
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by: Sir John Osborn, Bt | Member of Parliament for Wigtown Burghs 1824–1826 | Succeeded by: John Henry Lowther |
| Legal Offices | ||
| Preceded by: Sir Charles Wetherell | Solicitor General for England and Wales 1826—1829 | Succeeded by: Edward Sugden, 1st Baron St Leonards |
| Preceded by: Sir William Best | Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas 1829—1846 | Succeeded by: Sir Thomas Wilde |
