William Blackstone (Blackstone William)

(1723-1780), born in a family of merchants in Cheapside (London) July 10, 1723. He was educated at Charterhouse School in London, and Pembroke College, Oxford University. In 1741 joined the 'Middle-Temple', noting this event in verse Farewell lawyer with his muse (published in 'Almanac Dodsli'). In 1744, Blackstone was elected a Fellow of Oxford's All Souls College. Two years later he became a practicing lawyer, but soon discovered that it lacked the qualities necessary for a successful lawyer at the time, in 1753 he retired and restored its membership in the scientific community at Oxford. In the English universities at that time did not provide training courses for English law, and Blackstone agreed to fill this gap in education. From 1753 he taught courses that give students the necessary training. In 1758 Blackstone was appointed professor of jurisprudence, in 1761 he was elected to Parliament from the district Hindon (Wiltshire) in the same year was appointed Queen's Counsel. He married, Blackstone had to leave the place in All Souls College, and was appointed rector in New Inn Hall (Oxford) (out of the post in 1766). In 1763 he was offered a specially created post of Solicitor General to the Queen Charlotte Sophia. In 1765 appeared the first volume of Blackstone, known for his work Notes on English law (Commentaries on the Laws of England); the remaining three parts, he has released over the next four years. In 1768 Blackstone returned to parliament as an MP from Uestberi. In 1770 he rejected a proposal to occupy the post of Solicitor General, but became one of the judges on general appeals. Comments Blackstone remain the cornerstone of English and American jurisprudence. Blackstone died in London on February 14, 1780.