Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Martin, Samuel (1801-1883)
MARTIN, Sir SAMUEL (1801–1883), baron of the exchequer, son of Samuel Martin of Culmore, Newtown Limavady, co. Londonderry, was born in 1801. He graduated B.A. at Trinity College, Dublin, in 1821, proceeded M.A. in 1832, and received the honorary degree of LL.D. from the same university on 2 Sept. 1857. He entered Gray's Inn in 1821, and in 1826 the Middle Temple, where he was called to the bar on 29 Jan. 1830, having for the previous two years practised as a special pleader. He was a pupil and an intimate friend of Sir Frederick Pollock [q. v.], afterwards lord chief baron of the exchequer, with whom he went the northern circuit, where he rapidly acquired an extensive practice in mercantile cases. In Easter term 1843 he was made queen's counsel, and in 1847 was returned to parliament in the liberal interest for Pontefract, and made his maiden speech on the Crown and Government Security Bill of 1848. On 6 Nov. 1860 he succeeded Baron Rolfe in the court of exchequer, was created serjeant-at-law the following day, and was knighted on the 13th. At the bar Martin had distinguished himself by the lucidity and force with which he presented his points to the jury, and by the tact and temper with which he conducted an argument. On the bench he was soon recognised as a judge of unusual strength. A thorough adept in the refinements of special pleading and the intricate procedure then in vogue, he was nevertheless far from being a pedantic stickler for forms, but sought as far as possible to prevent their being wrested to purposes of injustice. His vast knowledge of business and the vigour of his understanding enabled him to master the essential points of a case with marvellous celerity, and his judgments were models of terseness and precision. As a criminal judge he did not shrink from imposing heavy sentences when demanded by justice, but his natural kindness of heart induced him not unfrequently to endeavour to obtain their mitigation. After a quarter of a century of honourable public life Martin retired from the bench, amid the universal regret of the bar, on 26 Jan. 1874. On 2 Feb. following he was sworn of the privy council; but owing to his increasing deafness, the cause of his retirement from the bench, he took no part in the proceedings of the judicial committee.
Martin was an excellent judge of horse-flesh, took throughout life a keen interest in the turf, and in 1874 was elected an honorary member of the Jockey Club. He died at his rooms, 132 Piccadilly, on 9 Jan. 1883.
Martin married, on 28 Aug. 1838, Fanny, eldest daughter of Sir Frederick Pollock, by whom he had issue a daughter, Frances Arabella, now Lady Macnaghten. Lady Martin died in 1874.
[Times, 10 Jan. 1883; Ann. Reg. 1883, pt. ii. p. 120; Foss's Lives of the Judges; Lord Campbell's Life, ed. Hon. Mrs. Hardcastle, ii. 330; Haydn's Book of Dignities, ed. Ockerby, p. 413; Ballantine's Experiences of a Barrister's Life, 1890, pp. 223, 247, and the Old World and the New, 1884, p. 210; Hansard's Parl. Deb. 3rd ser. xcviii. 244 et sq., 347, 426, civ. 682, ex. 135; Solicitors' Journ. 1873-4, p. 247; Gent. Mag. 838, pt. ii. p. 543; Law Times, lxxiv. 218.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.195
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 295 | ii | 13 f.e. | Martin, Sir Samuel: for now Lady Macnaghten. read who became wife of Lord Macnaghten. |