Charles Rann Kennedy
Encyclopedia
Charles Rann Kennedy was an English
lawyer
and classicist, best remembered for his involvement in the Swinfen will case and the issues of contingency fee agreements and legal ethics
that it involved.
, son of Rann Kennedy, and the younger brother of Benjamin Hall Kennedy
. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
and Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated as senior classic (1831) and was elected fellow. He entered Lincoln's Inn
, was called to the bar in 1835, became a barrister
, and settled at Birmingham. From 1849-1856 he was professor of law at Queen's College, Birmingham
.
In his academic role, he advised the judge
Lord Denman
in the important parliamentary privilege
case of Stockdale v. Hansard
. As counsel to Mrs Swinfen, the plaintiff in the celebrated will case Swinfen v. Swinfen (1856), he brought an action for remuneration for professional services, but the verdict given in his favour at Warwick
assizes was set aside by the court of Common Pleas
, on the ground that a barrister could not sue for the recovery of his fees.
(1871–1950), was a playwright and actor who married actress Edith Wynne Matthison
. His older brother was classicist Benjamin Hall Kennedy
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and classicist, best remembered for his involvement in the Swinfen will case and the issues of contingency fee agreements and legal ethics
Legal ethics
Legal ethics encompasses an ethical code governing the conduct of persons engaged in the practice of law and persons more generally in the legal sector.-In the United States:...
that it involved.
Life
Kennedy was born in BirminghamBirmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, son of Rann Kennedy, and the younger brother of Benjamin Hall Kennedy
Benjamin Hall Kennedy
Benjamin Hall Kennedy was an English scholar and schoolmaster, known for his work in the teaching of the Latin language.-Biography:...
. He was educated at Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated as senior classic (1831) and was elected fellow. He entered Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
, was called to the bar in 1835, became a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
, and settled at Birmingham. From 1849-1856 he was professor of law at Queen's College, Birmingham
Queen's College, Birmingham
The Birmingham Medical School was founded by surgeon William Sands Cox in 1828 as a residential college for medical students in central Birmingham, England. It was the first Birmingham institution to award degrees, through the University of London. Cox went on to found the Queen's Hospital in Bath...
.
In his academic role, he advised the judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
Lord Denman
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman
Thomas Denman, 1st Baron Denman PC KC was a British lawyer, judge and politician. He served as Lord Chief Justice between 1832 and 1850.-Background and education:Denman was born in London, the son of Dr Thomas Denman...
in the important parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made related to one's duties as a legislator. It is common in countries whose constitutions are...
case of Stockdale v. Hansard
Stockdale v. Hansard
Stockdale v Hansard 9 Ad & El 1 was a case in which the Parliament of the United Kingdom unsuccessfully challenged the common law of parliamentary privilege, leading to legislative reform.-Facts:...
. As counsel to Mrs Swinfen, the plaintiff in the celebrated will case Swinfen v. Swinfen (1856), he brought an action for remuneration for professional services, but the verdict given in his favour at Warwick
Warwick
Warwick is the county town of Warwickshire, England. The town lies upon the River Avon, south of Coventry and just west of Leamington Spa and Whitnash with which it is conjoined. As of the 2001 United Kingdom census, it had a population of 23,350...
assizes was set aside by the court of Common Pleas
Court of Common Pleas (England)
The Court of Common Pleas, or Common Bench, was a common law court in the English legal system that covered "common pleas"; actions between subject and subject, which did not concern the king. Created in the late 12th to early 13th century after splitting from the Exchequer of Pleas, the Common...
, on the ground that a barrister could not sue for the recovery of his fees.
Works
- New Rules for Pleading (2nd ed., 1841)
- Poems, Original and Selected (1843)
- A Treatise on Annuities (1846)
- Works of VirgilVirgilPublius Vergilius Maro, usually called Virgil or Vergil in English , was an ancient Roman poet of the Augustan period. He is known for three major works of Latin literature, the Eclogues , the Georgics, and the epic Aeneid...
, in blank verse, written in conjunction with his father (2 vols., 1850) - Specimens of Greek and Latin Verse (1853)
- Orations of DemosthenesDemosthenesDemosthenes was a prominent Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC. Demosthenes learned rhetoric by...
, translated into English, with notes, appendices, etc. (5 vols., 1841-63, in Bohn's Classical Library) - Hannibal, a poem, part i. (1866)
Family
His grandson, also named Charles Rann KennedyCharles Rann Kennedy (playwright)
Charles Rann Kennedy was an Anglo-American dramatist.-Biography:...
(1871–1950), was a playwright and actor who married actress Edith Wynne Matthison
Edith Wynne Matthison
Edith Wynne Matthison was an Anglo-American stage actress who also appeared in two silent films.-Biography:...
. His older brother was classicist Benjamin Hall Kennedy
Benjamin Hall Kennedy
Benjamin Hall Kennedy was an English scholar and schoolmaster, known for his work in the teaching of the Latin language.-Biography:...
.