Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/30

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Ayrton — Bagshaw.
AYRTON, ACTON SMEE.
Politician.
1815—1886.

Admitted 2 May, 1850.

Third son of Frederick Ayrton, of Bombay, and a Barrister of Gray's Inn. Before his entry to the Temple he had been a solicitor at Bombay. After his call to the Bar, 30 April, 1853, he devoted himself to politics and entered Parliament as a Liberal for the Tower Hamlets (1857). He interested himself greatly in London Municipal Reform, and in 1868 was made Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury. In 1869 he was made a Privy Councillor and First Commissioner of Works. In the latter position he showed great zeal for economy and made many enemies, which led to his transfer to the post of Judge-Advocate-General in 1873. With the fall of Mr. Gladstone's ministry in 1874 his political career came to an end. He died at Bournemouth, 30 Nov. 1886.


AYSHLEY. see ASHLEY.


B.


BACON, MONTAGU.
Scholar and Critic.
1688—1749.

Admitted 29 March, 1704.

Second son of Nicholas Bacon of Shrubland, Suffolk, and a descendant of Lord Keeper Bacon. He was baptized at Coddenham, 13 Dec. 1688, and educated at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the Bar 15 May, 1710, and some time later took Holy Orders. He proceeded M.A. in 1734, and in 1743 was preferred to the living of Newbold Verdun, Leicestershire, which rectory he held till his death, though unable to fulfil its duties by reason of failing health and temporary mental affliction. He died at Chelsea, 7 April, 1749, leaving a great reputation for learning and especially for knowledge of polite literature. His own literary work, however, was small, and is contained in a volume published after his death, entitled. Critical, Historical, and Explanatory Notes upon Hudibras … with a Dissertation upon Burlesque Poetry (1752).


BAGSHAW or BAGSHAWE, EDWARD.
Lawyer and Author.
1584—1662.

Admitted 25 November, 1608.

Second son of Edward Bagshawe, of the City of London. He was born of a respectable Derbyshire family in London about 1584. He was called to the Bar 27 Jan. 1615. Being "a knowing man in his profession" (as he is styled by Wood), he became a Bencher, and in 1639 was elected Lent Reader of the Inn. In his readings he attacked Episcopacy, and was consequently stopped by Lord Keeper Finch. This, however, only tended to make him popular with the Republican party, and in the following year he was returned for Southwark in their interest. Nevertheless he subsequently joined the King's party, and suffered imprisonment for his loyalty. He was released in 1646, and at the time of the King's return in 1660 was Treasurer of the Inn. He died two years afterwards. His published works, which all relate to the political and religious controversies of the time, are as follows: The Life and Death of Mr. Robert Bolton [his tutor at Oxford] (1633); Several Speeches in Parliament (1640—1642); Two Arguments in Parliament [respecting the Canons and Præmunire] (1641); Treatise defending the Revenues of the Church in Tithes and Glebe (1646); Short Censure of Will. Prynne's Book, entitled The University of Oxford's Plea refuted [2 sheets] (1648);