Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Northey, Edward
NORTHEY, Sir EDWARD (1652–1723), attorney-general, born in 1652, was son of William Northey of London, esq. The latter was probably the son of Thomas Northey who matriculated at Oxford (Wadham College) in June 1634, and was afterwards a barrister of the Middle Temple. Edward was educated at St. Paul's School, under Samuel Cromleholme, and at Queen's College, Oxford, where he matriculated 4 Dec. 1668, aged 16. His name does not appear in the register of graduates. In 1674 he was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and in 1697 was made a bencher of that society. In June 1701, on the promotion of Sir Thomas Trevor to be lord chief justice of the common pleas, Northey was made attorney-general. This office he held till 1707, and again from 1710 till March 1718, when he resigned with a pension of 1,500l. a year. On 1 June 1702 he was knighted. He was engaged in many state trials, notably in that of David Lindsay for high treason, 1704, and in that of John Tutchin [q. v.], so cruel in its sequel, for libel. Among his extant ‘opinions’ on cases submitted to him is one referring to an appointment held by Addison (Egerton MS. 1971, f. 19). In December 1710 he was elected M.P. for Tiverton, and in September 1715 he was appointed a commissioner under the act for building fifty new churches in and about London and Westminster. He died on 16 Aug. 1723.
In 1687 (license dated 1 Dec.) he married Ann Jolliffe of St. Martin Outwich in the city of London. By this lady, who died on 14 Aug. 1743, he had a daughter, Anne, wife of Robert, Lord Raymond [q. v.], lord chief-justice.
[Foster's Alumni Oxon. 1500–1714, iii. 1078; Gardiner's Admission Registers of St. Paul's School, p. 53, and of Wadham College, p. 114; Nichols's Lit. Anecd. ix. 590; Gent. Mag. 1743, p. 443; information from Mr. W. R. Douthwaite, librarian of Gray's Inn; State Trials, xiv. 1018, 1105; Addit. MSS. (Brit. Mus.), Nos. 6726 p. 5, 12201, 30222, f. 22; Lansdowne MS. 504, f. 12. Letters of a William and Thomas Northey, presumably those mentioned above, are in Addit. MS. 11049, ff. 112–30.]
Dictionary of National Biography, Errata (1904), p.207
N.B.— f.e. stands for from end and l.l. for last line
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| 200 | ii | 25-26 | Northey, Sir Edward: for Sir Thomas Raymond [q. v.], baron of the exchequer. read Robert Raymond, Lord Raymond [q. v.], lord chief justice. |