Sir Julius Caesar | |
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| Master of the Rolls | |
| In office 1614–1636 | |
| Monarchs | |
| Preceded by | Sir Edward Phelips |
| Succeeded by | Sir Dudley Digges |
| Chancellor of the Exchequer | |
| In office 1606–1614 | |
| Monarch | James I |
| Preceded by | The Earl of Dunbar |
| Succeeded by | Sir Fulke Greville |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1557/1558 Middlesex,England |
| Died | 18 April 1636 |
| Spouses | |
| Children |
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| Parents |
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| Alma mater | |
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Sir Julius Caesar (1557/1558 – 18 April 1636) was an English lawyer, judge and politician who sat in theHouse of Commons at various times between 1589 and 1622. He was also known as Julius Adelmare.
Caesar was born nearTottenham inMiddlesex, the son ofCesare Adelmare who was originally fromTreviso, Italy, and his wife, Margery Perient or Pirry (died c. 1583).[1][2] Cesare Adelmare, like many of his ancestors, studied at theUniversity of Padua, where he was made doctor in 1547.[3] He was registered as a doctor in his native Treviso in 1542.[4] In England in 1544 he was found to be working unlicensed and then licensed.[5] He was naturalised in 1558, and was a physician to QueensMary I andElizabeth I.[1] Cesare's father, Pietro Maria Adelmare, was also a graduate of Padua, and was a judge and ambassador for Treviso. Cesare's mother, Paola Cesarini, was said to be descended from the well-known Cesarini family of Rome.[6]
Julius was baptised in theChurch of St. Dunstan's-in-the-East in February 1558, his sponsors being theLord Treasurer,William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester;the Earl of Arundel; andLady Montagu representing the queen. After his father's death, his mother married, as her second husband,Michael Lok.[7][8] He was possibly educated atWinchester College and matriculated atMagdalen Hall, Oxford, on 10 January 1575, aged 16, and was awarded BA on 17 May 1575 and MA on 18 February 1578. He then studied at theFaculty of Law of Paris (University of Paris), where he was made LLB and LLD on 22 April 1581.[9]
Caesar was noted for his persistent striving for advancement and for financial reward in the time of Queen Elizabeth. He was a general commissioner on piracy in October 1581. In 1583 he was counsel to the City of London and commissary of his friendJohn Aylmer, theBishop of London in Middlesex, Hertfordshire and Essex.[1] On 5 March 1584 he was awarded a law degree at Oxford, and became doctor ofcanon law.[9] In 1584, he was appointedJudge of the High Court of Admiralty until 1605, and was an advocate ofDoctors' Commons in 1586. In 1588 he became amaster in chancery. He was elected MP forReigate in 1589. He becameBencher of theInner Temple in 1590 and wasMaster of Requests Extraordinary ofCourt of Requests in 1591. He becameJP from 1592 and was governor of mineral and battery works in 1593. Also in 1593 he was elected MP forBletchingley. He was treasurer of the Inner Temple in 1593. He became Master of Requests Ordinary of Court of Requests in 1595 and Master ofSt Katherine's Hospital in 1596. In 1597 he was elected MP forWindsor and was re-elected MP for Windsor in 1601.[1]
Queen Elizabeth, on her way toNonsuch Palace, paid him a visit at his house atMitcham on 12 September 1598.[10] She spent the night of the 12th there, and dined with him the next day.[11]
In the reign of King James, Caesar acquired extensive property, particularly in Hertfordshire, and achieved greater influence and political importance. He wasknighted atGreenwich byKing James in May 1603. He also became ecclesiastical commissioner for theProvince of Canterbury in 1603. In 1606 he was elected MP forMiddlesex. He wasChancellor and Under Treasurer of the Exchequer from 1606 to 1614. In 1607 he was appointed to thePrivy Council. In 1614 he was appointedMaster of the Rolls, an office which he held till his death in 1636. He was re-elected MP for Middlesex in 1614. In 1621 he became first commissioner for the great seal and was elected MP forMaldon. He was commissioner to inquire into operation of the poor law from 1631 to 1633.[1]
Caesar died at the age of 79 and was buried atGreat St. Helen's, Bishopsgate.[9]
Caesar was a remarkable civil servant and left many volumes of papers relating to his official work, and others relating to the mint, of which his first father-in-law was master. He worked on the history of theExchequer, and presented toBurghley a history of theCourt of Requests "to defend it against the slights of thecommon lawyers".[1] In 1625 he wrote a treatise on the constitution and functions of the privy council, entitledConcerning the Private Council of the Most High and Mighty King of Great Britain, France, Scotland, and Ireland. His manuscripts, many of which are now in theBritish Museum, were sold by auction in 1757 for a sum of around £500.
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Caesar married three times. He married firstly Dorcas Lusher (1561 – 16 June 1595)[failed verification], widow of Richard Lusher of theMiddle Temple and daughter of SirRichard Martin,master of the mint and laterLord Mayor of London, with whom he had four sons and a daughter.[11]
He married secondly, on 10 April 1596, Alice Dent (June 1569 – 23 May 1614), widow of John Dent, Alderman of London, and daughter of Christopher Grant ofManchester, Lancashire, with whom he had three more sons. A portrait of Alice when pregnant dated 1597 gives her age as 31.[12]
He married thirdly Anne Hogan, widow of Henry Hogan and William Hungate, both ofEast Bradenham, Norfolk, and daughter ofHenry Woodhouse ofWaxham, Norfolk on 19 April 1615.[1] His third wife Anne was a granddaughter ofNicholas Bacon.[13]Francis Bacon, his wife's uncle, died in his arms.
His son, also named Julius Caesar (14 February 1587 – 8 January 1607), was sent to study at theUniversity of Padua. He was wounded while fencing with Antonio Brochetta and sought revenge. He lay in wait for him with a pistol, but his shot missed. He then fell while attempting to draw his sword and was set upon by Brochetta[clarification needed] who ran him through and killed him.
His son SirCharles Caesar (27 January 1590 – 6 December 1642) was a member of Parliament, as well as Master of the Rolls from 1639 to 1642, which he purchased for £15,000 and a £2,000 loan.[14][15]
His son Sir John Caesar (20 October 1597 – 23 May 1647) of Hyde Hall,Hertfordshire, a country gentleman, was knighted in Scotland on 20 June 1617.[citation needed]
His son Thomas Caesar D.D. (17 March 1601 – 1633) wasrector ofLlanrhuddladAnglesey,Wales of whom a memorial graces the chancel ofBeaumaris parish church, Anglesey.[citation needed]
His sonRobert Caesar (9 October 1602 – 27 October 1637) was one of theSix Clerks ofCourt of Chancery and a member of Parliament.[16]
Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Caesar, Sir Julius".Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.| Parliament of England | ||
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| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forReigate 1589 With:Thomas Lyfield | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forBletchingley 1593 With:Stephen Riddlesden | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forWindsor 1597–1601 With:John Norreys | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forMiddlesex 1606–1614 With:Sir William Fleetwood 1606–1611 Sir Thomas Lake 1614 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament forMaldon 1621–1622 With:Sir Henry Mildmay | Succeeded by |
| Legal offices | ||
| Preceded by | Master of the Rolls 1614–1636 | Succeeded by |
Chancellors of the exchequer under theHouse of Stuart (1603–1649; 1660–1714) | ||
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| James I (1603–1625) |
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| Charles I (1625–1649) |
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| Charles II (1660–1685) |
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| James II (1685–1688) |
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| William &Mary (1689–1694) |
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| William III (1694–1702) |
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| Anne (1702–1714) |
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