Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Sellon, Baker John
SELLON, BAKER JOHN (1762–1835), lawyer, born on 14 March 1762, was second son of William Sellon (d. 1790), perpetual curate of St. James's, Clerkenwell. He was admitted into Merchant Taylors' School on 2 Nov. 1773 (Register, ed. Robinson, p. 137), whence he was elected to St. John's College, Oxford, on 11 June 1779, and graduated B.C.L. on 24 Oct. 1785 (Foster, Alumni Oxon. 1715–1886, 9. v.). His own wish was to have entered holy orders, but, at his father's request, he studied law, and was called to the bar from the Inner Temple on 10 Feb. 1792. After practising for several years with distinction, he was admitted a serjeant-at-law in Easter term, 1798, and became ultimately leader of the Norfolk circuit. Increasing deafness, however, obliged him to refuse a judgeship, and finally to retire from the bar. At his request Henry Addington, viscount Sidmouth [q. v.], appointed him in 1814 police magistrate at Union Hall, whence, in January 1819, he was transferred to Hatton Garden office. There he continued to act until his retirement in 1834. He died at Hampstead on 19 Aug. 1835. By his marriage, on 24 Jan. 1788, to Charlotte (d. 1832), daughter of Rivers Dickinson of St. John Street, Clerkenwell, he had a large family. His second daughter, Maria Ann, married, in 1819, John James Halls [q. v.], and his third daughter, Anne, married, in 1816, Sir Benjamin Collins Brodie the elder [q. v.]
Sellon was author of: 1. ‘Analysis of the Practice of the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas, with some Observations on the mode of passing Fines and suffering Recoveries,’ 8vo, London, 1789. 2. ‘The Practice of the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas,’ 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1792–6; 2nd edit. 2 vols. 8vo, London, 1798. A book founded upon George Crompton's ‘Practice,’ 1780 and 1786. 3. ‘Treatise on the Deity and the Trinity,’ 8vo, London, 1847, a posthumous work, edited by W. Marsh.
[Gent. Mag. 1790 ii. 673, 763, 1835 ii. 651–3; Reminiscences of Wm. Rogers, rector of St Botolph, Bishopsgate, p. 6; Watt's Bibl. Brit.; Allibone's Dict. of Authors.]