John Somers, Baron Somers of Evesham ( 1651 - 1716 )

Birth: Whiteladies, Claines, Worcester, England, Europe (4 March 1651) Death: Brookmans Manor, near North Mimms, Hertfordshire, England, Europe (26 April 1716) Burial: North Mimms parish church, Hertfordshire, England, Europe Profession: Barrister Education: King's School, Worcester; Walsall Grammar School, Staffordshire, and Mr Woodhouse's School at Sheriff Hales, Shropshire; Trinity College, Oxford (matriculated 1667); Middle Temple (admitted 1669) Career: Called to the Bar (1676); Standing Counsel to the Dean and Chapter of Worcester (1681); junior counsel for the defence of the seven non-juror bishops (1688); MP for Worcester (1689-1693); Commissioner for Preventing the Export of Wool (1689-1692); Chairman, Committee of Ways and Means (1689-1693); Commissioner for Assessment for Worcester and Worcestershire (1689-1690), and for the Middle Temple (1690); Bencher of the Middle Temple (1689); Solicitor General (1689-1692); Chairman of the Supply Committee (1690-1693); Recorder of Gloucester (1691); Attorney General (1692-1693); Privy Councillor (1693-1702, 1708-death); Lord Keeper of the Great Seal and Speaker of the House of Lords (1693-1697); one of the Lords Justices (1695-1699); Lord Chancellor (1697-1700); impeached by the House of Commons (1698) but no one appeared on the day of the trial, so the charge was dismissed; Commissioner for the Union with Scotland (1706); Lord President of the Council (1708-1710); Custos Rotulorum for Worcestershire (1715-death) Honours: Kt 1689; Baron 1697 Membership: Fellow Election Date: 30/11/1698 Council: PRS 1698-1703 Other RSActivity: Somers was elected Fellow the day he was chosen President but was otherwise not particularly active within the Society.