Serjeant-at-Law, and in 1525 became a Judge of the King's Bench, with the honour of knighthood. He acted on the Commission for the trials of Fisher and More, and of Anne Boleyn. He died about Nov. 1541. He was a benefactor of Brasenose College, Oxford.
PORTLAND, EARLS OF. See WESTON, JEROME, and WESTON, RICHARD.
Admitted 25 October, 1656.
Second son of Edmund Porter of Marsham, Norfolk, Prebendary of Norwich. Before his legal career he served as a soldier in the Low Countries. After his call to the Bar, 27 Nov. 1663, he attracted the notice of Lord-Keeper Guilford (q.v.), and was engaged in many important State trials. In the case of Sir Nicholas Crispe v. Dalmahoy he was seized by order of the House of Commons in the midst of his argument and committed to the Tower. On the accession of James IL he was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland (1686). In a few months, however, he was recalled, no reason being given, and he returned to his practice at the English Bar. He was called to the Bench of the Inn 27 Oct. 1682, appointed Reader in 1687 and Treasurer in 1688. On the accession of William III. he returned to Ireland as Lord Chancellor, and 1696 became Lord Justice, retaining the office till his death, 15 June, 1697.
Son of John Portman of the Middle Temple. There is no record of his admission, but he was Reader in 1532 and again in 1540. He became Serjeant and King's Serjeant in 1540, was elevated to the King's Bench in May, 1546, and became Chief Justice of that court in 1555. His name frequently appears on the Commissions for the trial of State prisoners, and he took part in the trial of Sir Nicholas Throckmorton for high treason 17 April, 1554. He died 5 Feb. 1557.
Admitted 27 February, 1735-6.
Second son of Right Rev. John Potter, Bishop of Oxford, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury. He was born at Cuddesdon 1718, and educated at Oxford, where he graduated 1735. He was called to the Bar 28th Nov. 1740, and became Recorder of Bath; but, having received a large fortune from his father, he gave himself to politics. He first sat for St. Germans, Cornwall, 1747. In Parliament he was an able speaker, and was the introducer of the first Census Bill, which, though thrown out, was the precursor of the Act of 1801. From 1754 to 1757 he sat for Aylesbury as a supporter of Pitt, and was appointed Paymaster-General of the Land Forces. In the latter year he became Vice- Treasurer in Ireland, when he gave up his Aylesbury seat to Wilkes, and represented Okehampton. He was a friend of Chesterfield, Garrick, Wilkes, and most of the wits of the day, and he is believed to have been the real author of the Essay on Woman, attributed to the last. He died 17 June, 1759.
