DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.53269#0075
SIR RICHARD RAINSFORD, Knt.
BORN in 1605, was a member of the honourable fociety of Lincoln’s
Inn, and called to the degree of ferjeant at law Odober 5, 1660.
Three years afterwards he was appointed one of the barons of the Ex-
chequer 5 and, in 1668, a juftice of the king’s bench.
After the dreadful fire of London, 1666, in order to prevent numberlefs
law fuits, an adt was paffed, appointing commiffioners to hear and de-
termine all differences relating to the unfortunate fufferers.
The indefatigable pains and equitable decifions of thefe commiffioners,
procured them the higheft praife ; and, as a teftimony of gratitude, their
portraits were painted by order of the city, and placed in Guildhall.
Michael Wright, an artift of much merit, was employed on this work,
and received fixty pounds for each picture. Among thefe is the portrait
of fir Richard Rainsford 5 befides which, there is one of him iry Lincoln’s
Inn library, and others in private hands. A mezzotinto half fheet'print of
him was publifhed by Tompfon, from a picture by W. Claret, and is now
become very fcarce.
On the refignation of that learned and worthy man, fir Matthew Hale,
in 1676, fir Richard Rainsford was conftituted lord chief juftice, which
high office he held for two years, and then refigned j being fucceeded by
fir William Scroggs. He lived only to the February following, dying on
the 17th day of that month, at the age of 75 years 5 and has left at
Dallington in Northamptonfhire, (the place of his death and interment) a
monument of his charity 5 an alms-houfe for old men and women, with'a
weekly allowance.
Sir Richard Rainsford married Catherine, daughter.of Samuel Clarke,
S. T. P. by whom he had twelve children, but four only out-lived him,
the reft having died young. Mary, his only furviving daughter, married
William Buckby, ferjeant at law, of whom the poffeflbr of the picture,
from which this print is taken, is a lineal defcendant.
Arms of Rainsford; a fhield argent, with a crofs fable 5—creft, a
buck’s head proper.
BORN in 1605, was a member of the honourable fociety of Lincoln’s
Inn, and called to the degree of ferjeant at law Odober 5, 1660.
Three years afterwards he was appointed one of the barons of the Ex-
chequer 5 and, in 1668, a juftice of the king’s bench.
After the dreadful fire of London, 1666, in order to prevent numberlefs
law fuits, an adt was paffed, appointing commiffioners to hear and de-
termine all differences relating to the unfortunate fufferers.
The indefatigable pains and equitable decifions of thefe commiffioners,
procured them the higheft praife ; and, as a teftimony of gratitude, their
portraits were painted by order of the city, and placed in Guildhall.
Michael Wright, an artift of much merit, was employed on this work,
and received fixty pounds for each picture. Among thefe is the portrait
of fir Richard Rainsford 5 befides which, there is one of him iry Lincoln’s
Inn library, and others in private hands. A mezzotinto half fheet'print of
him was publifhed by Tompfon, from a picture by W. Claret, and is now
become very fcarce.
On the refignation of that learned and worthy man, fir Matthew Hale,
in 1676, fir Richard Rainsford was conftituted lord chief juftice, which
high office he held for two years, and then refigned j being fucceeded by
fir William Scroggs. He lived only to the February following, dying on
the 17th day of that month, at the age of 75 years 5 and has left at
Dallington in Northamptonfhire, (the place of his death and interment) a
monument of his charity 5 an alms-houfe for old men and women, with'a
weekly allowance.
Sir Richard Rainsford married Catherine, daughter.of Samuel Clarke,
S. T. P. by whom he had twelve children, but four only out-lived him,
the reft having died young. Mary, his only furviving daughter, married
William Buckby, ferjeant at law, of whom the poffeflbr of the picture,
from which this print is taken, is a lineal defcendant.
Arms of Rainsford; a fhield argent, with a crofs fable 5—creft, a
buck’s head proper.