Robert Wright (judge)

Sir Robert Wright (c. 1634 – 1689) was an English judge and Chief Justice of the King’s Bench 1687–89.

Wright was the son of Jermyn Wright of Wangford in Suffolk, by his wife Anne, daughter of Richard Bachcroft of Bexwell in Norfolk. He was descended from a family long seated at Kelverstone in Norfolk, and was educated at the free school at Thetford. He was admitted to Caius College, Cambridge on 1 April 1651.

He entered Lincoln's Inn on 14 June 1654, and after being called to the bar went the Norfolk circuit. According to Roger North he was "a comely person, airy and nourishing both in his habits and way of living", but a very poor lawyer. He was a friend of Roger's brother, Francis North, and relied implicitly on him when required to give a written opinion (North later developed a deep contempt for Wright). Although by marrying the daughter of the Bishop of Ely he obtained a good practice, his "voluptuous unthinking course of life" led him into great embarrassments. These he evaded by pledging his estate to Francis North, and afterwards mortgaging it to Sir Walter Plummer, fraudulently tendering him an affidavit that it was clear of all encumbrances.

On 10 April 1668 Wright was returned to parliament for King's Lynn. In 1678 he was appointed counsel for the University of Cambridge, and in August 1679 he was elected deputy recorder of the town. In October 1678 he fell under suspicion of being concerned in the Popish Plot, Coleman having been in his company the Sunday before he was committed. On 31 October the matter was brought by the Speaker before the House of Commons, which ordered Wright’s chambers in Lincoln's Inn and his lodgings to be searched. As nothing was found to incriminate him, he was declared completely exculpated. In Easter 1679 he was made a Serjeant, and on 12 May 1680 he was made a King's Serjeant. He was knighted on 15 May, and in 1681 was appointed chief justice of Glamorgan.

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