A comprehensive account of lawyer William Garrow's life, career, family
and connections. Sir William Garrow was born in Middlesex in 1760 and
called to the Bar in 1783. He was the dominant figure at the Old Bailey
from 1783 to 1793, later becoming an MP, Solicitor-General,
Attorney-General and finally a judge and lawmaker within the Common Law
Tradition. Sir William Garrow is a generous work in which well-known
legal historian and biographer John Hostettler and family story-teller
Richard Braby (a descendant of Garrow) combine their skills and
experience to produce a gem of a book. 'Without the pioneering work of
William Garrow, the legal system would be stuck in the Middle Ages':
Radio Times 'Right - hands up all those who have heard of William
Garrow. Hmm, thought so - me neither. That will all change ....' Frances
Gibb's Law Section, The Times Aside from BBC1 TV's prime-time drama
series 'Garrow's Law', the story of Sir William Garrow's unique
contribution to the development of English law and Parliamentary affairs
is so far little known by the general public. This book tells the real
story of the man behind the drama. Garrow is now in the public-eye for
daring to challenge entrenched legal ways and means. His 'gifts to the
world' include altering the relationship between judge and jury (the
former had until then dominated over the latter in criminal trials),
helping to forge the presumption of innocence and ensuring a general
right to put forward a defence using a trained lawyer. He gave new
meaning to the forensic art of cross-examination, later diverting skills
honed as a radical to help the Crown when it was faced with plots,
treason and revolution. The lost story of Sir William Garrow and its
rediscovery will prove intriguing for professional and general readers
alike and will be an invaluable 'missing-link' for legal and social
historians. It is also a remarkable work of genealogical research which
will register strongly with family historians.
