Edward Simpson (Master of Trinity Hall, Cambridge) explained

Sir Edward Simpson, (c..1699 – 20 May 1764) of Acton, Middlesex was an English politician, lawyer and academic.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

He was the son of Francis Simpson of Fishlake, Yorkshire and educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, graduating LL.B in 1724 and LL.D in 1728. He entered Lincoln's Inn to study law in 1719 and was called to the bar in 1726.^[5]

He was a Fellow of Trinity Hall from 1724 to 1735, and its Master from then until his death.^[6] He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1740 to 1741.^[7]

He became an advocate in the Doctors' Commons in 1736 and Chancellor of the Diocese of Bath and Wells in 1738. Simpson was a "senior civil lawyer":^[8] Judge of the Consistory courtof London from 1747 to 1758; then Judge of the Prerogative Court, Canterbury and Dean of the Arches from 1758 until his death.^[9] He also served as a Judge of the Cinque Ports.^[10]

Simpson was also M.P. for Dover from 1759 until his death^[11] and was knighted in December 1761.

He died on 20 May 1764, having married in 1750, Elizabeth Foster of St. Olave, Old Jewry. They had no children.

Notes and References

1. "Additional Grenville Papers, 1763-1765" Tomlinson, J.R.G. p136: Manchester; MUP, 1962
2. "The Present State of Great Britain and Ireland: Containing an Accurate and Impartial Account of These Famous Islands: Miege,G. p165: London; J. Brotherton; 1738
3. Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae: or a calendar of the principal ecclesiast. dignitaries in England and Wales, and of the chief officers in the univ. of Oxford and Cambridge, from the earliest time to the year 1760 Le Neve, J p41: Oxford; University Press; 1854
4. "Documents relating to St. Catharine's college, collected by H. Philpott" p149: Cambridge; University Press; 1861
5. Web site: Simpson, Edward (c. 1699-1764), of Acton, Mdx.. History of Parliament Trust. 22 August 2019.
6. [Alumni Cantabrigienses|Alumni Cantabrigienses: A Biographical List the son of All Known Students, Graduates and Holders of Office at the University of Cambridge, from the Earliest Times to 1900]
7. https://www.v-c.admin.cam.ac.uk/role-vice-chancellor/history-vice-chancellorship University of Cambridge web-site
8. "The Chronicles of John Cannon, Excise Officer and Writing Master, Volume 43, Part 1 p113: John Cannon Oxford University Press for British Academy, 2010
9. "The Parliamentary History of England, From the Earliest Period to the Year 1803. Vol XV 1753-1765" p318: London; T.C. Hansard; 1813
10. Page 123, "The Structure of Politics at the Accession of George III" Namier, L p128: London Macmillan 1957
11. [Robert Beatson]