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Henry Alworth Merewether

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Henry Alworth Merewether

Henry Alworth Merewether (1780–1864) was an English serjeant-at-law, Town Clerk of London and author.

Life

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He was eldest son of Henry Merewether of Calne, Wiltshire; his brother Francis (1784–1864) was rector of Coleorton. He was educated at Reading School under Richard Valpy, was called to the bar 5 May 1809, was created serjeant-at-law 25 June 1827, and became king's counsel with patent of precedence in 1853.[1]

Merewether practised on the western circuit with success. He was appointed recorder of Reading and was attorney-general to Adelaide, Queen-dowager. He received the degree of D.C.L. from the University of Oxford on 12 June 1839.[1]

Elected town-clerk of London on 23 June 1842, over William Pritchard, Merewether then became high bailiff of Southwark. By accepting this appointment he lost a good income at the bar. He resigned the office of town-clerk on 10 February 1859, and died at his family seat, Castlefield, near Calne, Wiltshire, on 22 July 1864, at age 83.[1]

Works

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Merewether's major work was The History of the Boroughs and Municipal Corporations of the United Kingdom (1835), written with Archibald John Stephens, and published in three volumes. He also wrote:[1]

  • A New System of Police, London, 1816.
  • A Sketch of the History of Boroughs, and of the Corporate Right of Election, London, 1822.
  • Report of the Case of the Borough of West Looe, London, 1823.
  • An Address to the King, the Lords, and Commons on the Representative Constitution of England, London, 1830.
  • The Speech … at the Bar of the House of Commons against the Bill intituled An Act to make Temporary Provision for the Government of Jamaica, London, 1839.
  • The Speech … upon the Claim of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests to the Seashore, London, Dublin, 1850.

Family

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Merewether was twice married, and left several children. His eldest son, Henry Alworth (1812–1877), was recorder of Devizes and a bencher of the Inner Temple. His youngest son was Sir William Lockyer Merewether.[1]

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d e Lee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Merewether, Henry Alworth" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 37. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
Attribution
Civic offices
Preceded by Town Clerk of London
1842–1859
Succeeded by

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainLee, Sidney, ed. (1894). "Merewether, Henry Alworth". Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 37. London: Smith, Elder & Co.