Henry Newton 1650-1715

Sir Henry NEWTON 1650-1715

Biographical Note

Son of Henry Newton, of Highley, Essex. BA St Mary Hall, Oxford 1668, MA 1671, DCL 1678. He entered Doctors' Commons as an advocate in 1678, and became Chancellor of the diocese of London in 1689; he also undertook legal work for the Admiralty, and became a master in Chancery in 1699. Between 1704 and 1711 he was mostly in Europe, undertaking a series of diplomatic missions. He became a judge in the Admiralty Court in 1714 and was knighted the following year, shortly before his death. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1709 and belonged to several foreign academies and learned societies; he published several Latin works.

Books

Newton's library was auctioned in London, beginning 16 April 1716. His brief will has no mention of books, leaving all his property to his wife and two daughters.

Sources

• Will of Sir Henry Newton, The National Archives PROB 11/547/344.
• Alston, R. C., Inventory of sale catalogues ... 1676-1800, St Philip, 2010.
• Bibliotheca Newtoniana, London, 1716, ESTC t7937.
• Handley, Stuart. "Newton, Sir Henry (1650–1715), diplomat and judge." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.