Robert Rede
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Rede KS was a British justice. He was the son of William Rede of Wrangle, Lincolnshire, a merchant working from Calais
, and his wife Joan. He was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
in 1467 (although he may have previously been a member of Clement's Inn) and gave his first reading there in 1481. In 1486 he was made a Serjeant-at-law
, followed by a promotion in 1494 to King's Serjeant, and an appointment in 1495 as a justice of the Court of King's Bench
, where he sat for 10 years under Sir John Fineux
, and was knighted for his services in 1501. He was transferred to the Court of Common Pleas
in 1506 and promoted to Chief Justice
, a position he held until his death on 7 January 1519.
At some point in the 1470s Rede married Margaret, daughter of John Alfegh, another member of Lincoln's Inn. They had 2 sons and 4 daughters; Edmund, who died in 1501, John, who joined Inner Temple
and along with Mary also predeceased Robert, Jane who married John Caryll, Bridget who married Thomas Willoughby and Dorothy, who married Edward Wotton. Rede left a £4 annual stipend to finance three lectureships at Jesus College, Cambridge
, one for logic, one for moral philosophy and one for the humanities. Although these positions had been provided since 1480, the stipend helped secure the position. From 1858 the fund was used to support a single annual lecture, known as the Rede Lecture
, a practice that has continued to this day.
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, and his wife Joan. He was admitted to 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...
in 1467 (although he may have previously been a member of Clement's Inn) and gave his first reading there in 1481. In 1486 he was made a Serjeant-at-law
Serjeant-at-law
The Serjeants-at-Law was an order of barristers at the English bar. The position of Serjeant-at-Law , or Sergeant-Counter, was centuries old; there are writs dating to 1300 which identify them as descended from figures in France prior to the Norman Conquest...
, followed by a promotion in 1494 to King's Serjeant, and an appointment in 1495 as a justice of the Court of King's Bench
Court of King's Bench (England)
The Court of King's Bench , formally known as The Court of the King Before the King Himself, was an English court of common law in the English legal system...
, where he sat for 10 years under Sir John Fineux
John Fineux
Sir John Fineux was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench.-Early life and career:Fineux was the son of William Fyneux of Swingfield, Kent, his mother's name being Monyngs. The family of Fyneux or Fineux was of great antiquity in Kent...
, and was knighted for his services in 1501. He was transferred to 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...
in 1506 and promoted to Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
The Court of Common Pleas, also known as the Common Bench or Common Place, was the second highest common law court in the English legal system until 1880, when it was dissolved. As such, the Chief Justice of the Common Pleas was one of the highest judicial officials in England, behind only the Lord...
, a position he held until his death on 7 January 1519.
At some point in the 1470s Rede married Margaret, daughter of John Alfegh, another member of Lincoln's Inn. They had 2 sons and 4 daughters; Edmund, who died in 1501, John, who joined Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
and along with Mary also predeceased Robert, Jane who married John Caryll, Bridget who married Thomas Willoughby and Dorothy, who married Edward Wotton. Rede left a £4 annual stipend to finance three lectureships at Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, one for logic, one for moral philosophy and one for the humanities. Although these positions had been provided since 1480, the stipend helped secure the position. From 1858 the fund was used to support a single annual lecture, known as the Rede Lecture
Rede Lecture
The Sir Robert Rede's Lecturer is an annual appointment to give a public lecture, the Sir Robert Rede's Lecture at the University of Cambridge. It is named for Sir Robert Rede, who was Chief Justice of the Common Pleas in the sixteenth century.-Initial series:The initial series of lectures ranges...
, a practice that has continued to this day.