Edward Northey (barrister)

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Sir Edward Northey (7 May 1652 – 14 August 1723) was a leading British lawyer and politician who lived at Woodcote House, Epsom, Surrey. He was born in London to barrister William Northey and Elizabeth Garrett, educated at St Paul’s School, studied at Oxford, and joined the Middle Temple. He was called to the bar in 1674 and spent about 15 years in private practice, arguing important cases in the Lords about King James II’s powers. In 1687 he inherited money from Lady Wentworth and married Anne Joliffe.

Northey became attorney-general to the Duchy of Lancaster in 1689 and was considered for solicitor-general in 1693. He argued in the Toland case that Christianity not Mysterious could not be declared heretical. In 1701, under William III, he was made Attorney General for England and Wales and was knighted in 1702 when Queen Anne ascended to the throne. He prosecuted many trials, including those of David Lindsay and John Tutchin, but he did not take part in the Sacheverell case. He was replaced in 1708 by Simon Harcourt, but regained the post in 1710 and kept it until 1718.

In 1710 Northey was elected Member of Parliament for Tiverton and held the seat after being re-elected in 1713 and again in 1715. He was a mild Tory and largely non-partisan, which helped him retain influence after George I became king in 1714. He left the attorney-generalship in 1718 and accepted a pension. In 1722 he resigned from Parliament because of paralysis in his right hand and retired to Epsom. He died there in 1723 and was buried at Epsom Church. He left his wife Anne and children William, Edward, Elizabeth and Rebecca; his daughter Rebecca married Ellerker Bradshaw, MP for Beverley.