Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Powell, John Joseph
POWELL, JOHN JOSEPH (1755?–1801), legal writer, born about 1755, only son of James Powell of Queen Street, Westminster, was admitted a student at the Middle Temple on 25 April 1775. He practised as a conveyancer, and was probably a pupil of Charles Fearne [q. v.], whose classical essay on ‘Contingent Remainders’ he edited in 1795. He died at his residence in Guilford Place, Russell Square, on 21 June 1801. Powell was author of: 1. ‘A Treatise upon the Law of Mortgages,’ London, 1758, 8vo; 3rd edit. 1791, 2 vols. 8vo; 6th edit., by Coventry, 1826, 8vo. 2. ‘An Essay upon the Learning of Devises,’ London, 1788, 8vo; 3rd edit., by Jarman, 1827, 2 vols. 8vo. 3. ‘An Essay upon the Learning respecting the Creation and Execution of Powers,’ London, 1787; 2nd edit. 1799, 8vo. 4. ‘Essay upon the Law of Contracts and Agreements,’ London, 1790, 2 vols. 8vo. Powell's works were in high repute in their day, both in England and America, where they have been frequently re-edited.
[Middle Temple Register; Europ. Mag. 1801, pt. ii. p. 78; Gent. Mag. 1801, pt. ii. p. 675; Marvin's Legal Bibliography; Bridgman's Legal Bibliography; Brit. Mus. Cat.]