Blackstone, Sir William (1723-1780), an English judge, author, and professor, won recognition for his Commentaries on the Laws of England (1765-1769). This book presented a comprehensive picture of the English law of his time, and became the most influential book in the history of English law. It was the basis of legal education in England and America for years. Blackstone’s book greatly influenced American colonists. The colonists used it as their chief source of information about English law.
Blackstone’s temperament apparently was not suited to the practice of law, and, on the advice of a friend, he began to deliver lectures on English law at Oxford University. This was a novel undertaking. At that time English law was not considered an appropriate subject for instruction. Instead, Roman civil law, the law of continental Europe, was taught at Oxford.
His lectures were so successful that Charles Viner (1678-1756), author of an abridgment of English law, endowed a chair on the subject. Blackstone became the first professor of English law in 1758.
Blackstone also served as a member of Parliament. In one embarrassing incident in Parliament, Blackstone’s own Commentaries were quoted in a debate to show that he was wrong in a matter of law. He became Judge of the Common Pleas in 1770. Later, Blackstone served as a judge on the King’s Bench, but he soon returned to the Common Pleas. Later in his life, he advocated prison reform and obtained some legislation on it.
Blackstone was born on July 10, 1723, in London. He studied at Charterhouse School and Oxford University. He wanted to be an architect, a drama critic, and a poet. However, Blackstone felt he could not make enough money in these careers, so he began the study of law. He died on Feb. 14, 1780.
