Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Law, James Thomas

​LAW, JAMES THOMAS (1790–1876), chancellor of Lichfield, born in 1790, was eldest son of George Henry Law [q.v.], bishop of Bath and Wells, by Jane, daughter of General James Whorwood Adeane, M.P., of Babraham, Cambridgeshire (Gent. Mag. 1846, i. 531). He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge, graduated B.A. in 1812 as second senior optime, was chosen fellow, took orders in 1814, and proceeded M.A. in 1815. On 9 April 1818 he was made prebendary of Chester (Le Neve, Fasti, ed. Hardy, iii. 273), and on 18 July following prebendary of Lichfield (ib. i. 588). In 1821 he was appointed chancellor of the diocese of Lichfield, in 1824 commissary of the archdeaconry of Richmond, and in 1840 special commissary of the diocese of Bath and Wells. He took much interest in the Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery, Queen's College, Birmingham, of which he was elected honorary warden in 1846, and in the Theological College, Lichfield. He was master of St. John's Hospital, Lichfield. Law died at Lichfield on 22 Feb. 1876. On 16 Dec. 1820 he married Lady Henrietta Charlotte Grey (d. 1866), eldest daughter of George Harry, sixth earl of Stamford and Warrington, and left issue.

Law published: 1. 'A Catechetical Exposition of the Apostles' Creed,' 8vo, London, 1825. 2. 'The Poor Man's Garden, or a few brief Rules for Regulating Allotments of Land to the Poor for Potatoe Gardens,' &c., 8vo, London, 1830; 4th edit. 1831. 3. 'The Acts for Building and Promoting the Building of Additional Churches in Populous Parishes arranged and harmonised,' 8vo, London, 1841; 3rd edit. 1853. 4. 'The Ecclesiastical Statutes at large, extracted from the great body of the Statute Law and arranged under separate heads,' 5 vols. 8vo, London, 1847. 5. 'Lectures on the Ecclesiastical Law of England,' pt. i. 8vo, London, 1861. 6. 'Lectures on the Office and Duties of Churchwardens,' &c., 8vo, London, 1861. 7. 'Materials for a Brief History of ... Queen's College, Birmingham; with a Supplement and Appendices, arranged by Mr. Chancellor Law,' 4to, Lichfield, 1869. He also published 'Forms of Ecclesiastical Law,' 8vo, London, 1831 (another edit. 1844); a translation of the first part of T. Oughton's 'Ordo Judiciorum,' with large additions from Clarke's 'Praxis;' together with various charges and pamphlets.

G. G.