James Burge
Encyclopedia
Edward James Burge, Q.C
. (born, 1925; died, 23 October 2010, London, England) was an English criminal law barrister, most notable for his famous defense of Stephen Ward
in the then notorious "Profumo Affair
" in 1963. He is also remembered as John Mortimer
's original inspiration for the fictional barrister Rumpole of the Bailey
.
Burge was educated at Lincoln College
, Oxford
, as an undergraduate commoner.
Ward was prosecuted for living on the immoral earnings of prostitution. He was defended by Burge, who, known as a mercurial Old Bailey junior, never quite recovered from the professional consequences of defending him in the scandal. No verdict was returned for Ward, as he committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping tablets on the last day of the trial.
Author and fellow barrister John Mortimer stated on several occasions that there were elements of Burge, especially Burge’s independence and total dedication to often unprepossessing clients, that he incorporated into the famous fictional character Rumpole of the Bailey.
Burge practiced in the chambers of RE Seaton, QC, an established “criminal set” in Queen Elizabeth Building, Temple, London.
He died at age 85, on 23 October 2010.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. (born, 1925; died, 23 October 2010, London, England) was an English criminal law barrister, most notable for his famous defense of Stephen Ward
Stephen Ward
Stephen Thomas Ward was an osteopath and artist who became notorious as one of the central figures in the 1963 Profumo affair, a British public scandal which profoundly affected the ruling Conservative Party government...
in the then notorious "Profumo Affair
Profumo Affair
The Profumo Affair was a 1963 British political scandal named after John Profumo, Secretary of State for War. His affair with Christine Keeler, the reputed mistress of an alleged Russian spy, followed by lying in the House of Commons when he was questioned about it, forced the resignation of...
" in 1963. He is also remembered as John Mortimer
John Mortimer
Sir John Clifford Mortimer, CBE, QC was a British barrister, dramatist, screenwriter and author.-Early life:...
's original inspiration for the fictional barrister Rumpole of the Bailey
Rumpole of the Bailey
Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer which starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, an ageing London barrister who defends any and all clients...
.
Burge was educated at Lincoln College
Lincoln College, Oxford
Lincoln College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. It is situated on Turl Street in central Oxford, backing onto Brasenose College and adjacent to Exeter College...
, Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, as an undergraduate commoner.
Ward was prosecuted for living on the immoral earnings of prostitution. He was defended by Burge, who, known as a mercurial Old Bailey junior, never quite recovered from the professional consequences of defending him in the scandal. No verdict was returned for Ward, as he committed suicide by overdosing on sleeping tablets on the last day of the trial.
Author and fellow barrister John Mortimer stated on several occasions that there were elements of Burge, especially Burge’s independence and total dedication to often unprepossessing clients, that he incorporated into the famous fictional character Rumpole of the Bailey.
Burge practiced in the chambers of RE Seaton, QC, an established “criminal set” in Queen Elizabeth Building, Temple, London.
He died at age 85, on 23 October 2010.