Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough (16 November 1750–13 December 1818), was born at Great Salkeld, in Cumberland, where his father, Edmund Law (1703–1787), afterwards Bishop of Carlisle, was at the time rector.His mother was Mary Christian of Ewanrigg, Cumberland.Educated at the Charterhouse and at Peterhouse,Cambridge, he passed as third wrangler and was soon afterwards elected to a fellowship at Trinity. In spite of his father's strong wish that he should take holy orders, he chose the legal profession, and was subsequently entered at Lincoln's Inn.Lord Ellenborough married Ann Towry in 1789, and their surviving children became renowned in politics, and clergy.

After spending 5 years as a special pleader, he was called to the bar in 1780.He chose the northern circuit and, shortly, obtained a lucrative practice and a high reputation.In 1787, he was appointed principal counsel for Warren Hastings in the celebrated impeachment trial before the House of Lords, and the ability with which he conducted the defence was universally recognised.He was made KC.He was made a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London.He had begun his political career as a Whig, but changed sides.In 1801, he was appointed Attorney General and was knighted.In 1802 he succeeded Lord Kenyon as Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench.

Ellenborough was known for handling cases of a political nature, including those involving treason, seditious libel, and conspiracy.His judgments often reflected his conservative stance and strict interpretation of the law.He was harsh and overbearing to counsel and showed an unmistakable bias against the accused.In 1803, he oversaw the trial of Colonel Edward Despard, who was accused of plotting to assassinate King George III.Despard was convicted and executed despite a character witness from Horatio Nelson.Law also introduced the Malicious Shooting or Stabbing Act, outlawing abortion too.

Ellenborough could be humane, too. For destitute French refugees in England, he stated their right to a livelihood.His judgement in Cary v Kearsley was extremely influential in developing the doctrine of fair use in the field of copyright.

Although this book is on the dry side, it would have been a 4-star read for me if the subject of the biography himself weren’t so undeserving. Conceptually, it’s a good idea: a biography of this horrible man offers a look at how horrible the privileged Englishmen of his class were during this era. The unrelenting cruelty of it, though, is overwhelming—each incident more terrible than the last. I don’t think this man deserves to be immortalized in a biography.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This book uses an ethnic slur when talking about Romani people. While it might have been a word used during the 1800s (and sadly beyond), there was no real need to use the slur in a book published in 2025.

I struggled with this book. The writing, while competent, is — in my opinion — dull. I had to force myself to keep reading, to drag myself back to it again and again because I simply wasn’t finding it an enjoyable read. And it’s a shame because I am interested both in the Georgian era and because Edward Law is a fascinating man, alarmingly influential in this modern day and age — even in the United States — and the author does a solid job of not only chronicling Edward’s life, but giving it context within the mores and societal expectations and pressures of his time.

It’s both interesting and disquieting that Law’s law on abortion, in 1803 declaring that, in his judgement, begins at conception, has had such lasting consequences — especially in America. Equally so the early evangelical movement towards temperance was because “drinking and fornication wold damage the productivity of those chosen by God to be the beasts of burden; their self-indulgence would lead to heresy, atheism, and a breakdown in obedience.”

But the book was a chore to read. While the writing is technically strong, and I am confident that the author has read a great deal about Edward Law and did a great deal of research, I was not entertained. It took me over two weeks to read a 230 page book. I don’t feel like I learned more about Edward or Georgian society, instead I feel like I read a collection of facts and trivia put in chronological order. And it’s a shame. If the writing were more relaxed, more inviting or had more personality, I think this would have been something I might have found useful to keep around. As it is, I was bored, and at the end of the book I am left knowing I’ll never come back to it, and won’t recommend it.

Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC. While I gave the book three stars, it's more of a 2.5 rounded up for the research.

This book is an absolute revelation. I’ve been glued over a couple of days as it reads more like an adventure story. James Hobson, whose research appears to be extensive and meticulous, has presented a lively and vibrant picture of Georgian England as witnessed by one man, Edward Law. I’d never heard of him, but it turns out he was a real mover and shaker of the time. He was at the centre of high society, not well liked but influencing in various ways the major institutions; church, law, schools and the royal family. He was an extraordinary and exceptional individual and Hobson’s biography gives real insight into the Georgian world. It was one of accepted order; the wealthy and royals ruled and the poor should know and be kept in their place. But change was afoot and the peasants were revolting.

This is one of the best books I’ve read about the Georgian period. Law’s beginnings were relatively humble and his early years are fascinating. His grandfather was at the bottom of the social ladder, a curate and teacher in Cumberland. Hobson charts the social climb well and it was remarkable. Without doubt, Law was not a likeable individual. Opinionated, arrogant, cruel and more. But this didn’t stop him and I feel the depiction presented is honest and without prejudice or judgement. I’m not keen on revisionist and sanitised history, The past, warts and all, is the past and we should view it as it was and if we don’t like certain aspects, learn from it and move on. Too many accounts wash over the more unsavoury aspects and with a significant move to a woke and PC society, we’re losing important bits of history to spare sensitivities. It’s wrong and I’m delighted to say Hobson doesn’t fall into this trap.

Following the text is an extensive index and resource references. Best of all is a series of plates depicting places, people and events covered by the narrative. Most were new to me and along with the story of this man’s life, I feel I have a real sense of the social divisions and differences and the power of the Establishment at that time. I’m left with a sense that in many ways, little has changed. Brilliant book and now I’m looking for more from this author.