Francis Thorpe

Francis Thorpe (1595–1665) was an English barrister, judge and politician.

He was the eldest son of Roger Thorpe of Birdsall, North Yorkshire and of his wife Elizabeth, daughter of William Danyell of Beswick. He was admitted a student of Gray's Inn on 12 February 1611, and of St John's College, Cambridge, on 8 November following. He graduated B.A. in 1613.

Thorpe was called to the bar on 11 May 1621, was ancient of Gray's Inn in 1632, bencher in 1640, and autumn reader in 1641. He was made recorder of Beverley in 1623, and held the post until raised to the bench in 1649, when he was succeeded by his stepson, William Wise. He was recorder of Kingston upon Hull from 1639 till 1648, and made the public speech at the reception of Charles I on his visit to the town in April 1639.

On 24 March 1641 Thorpe was called as a witness at the trial of the Earl of Strafford. On the outbreaking of the First English Civil War, Thorpe took the side of Parliament, serving in its army and attaining the rank of colonel. He represented the borough of Richmond as a "recruiter" to the Long Parliament (elected 20 October 1645). On 6 September 1648 he was appointed by the committee for the advance of money steward for the sequestered estates of the Duke of Buckingham in Yorkshire. On 12 October of the same year he was made serjeant-at-law by the parliament.

Thorpe was named a commissioner for the trial of King Charles I in January 1649, but never attended the court. On 14 April he received the thanks of the house for his services to the Commonwealth on his last circuit, and was ordered on 15 June to go on the same again the following vacation. On 1 June 1649 he was raised to a seat in the exchequer. On 1 April 1650 he was appointed one of the commissioners for the act for establishing the high court of justice.

...
Wikipedia