Edward Coke

The Right Honourable Sir Edward Coke SL


Chief Justice of the King's Bench
In office 25 October 1613 – 15 November 1616
Appointed by	James I
Preceded by	Sir Thomas Fleming
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Montagu
Chief Justice of the Common Pleas
In office 30 June 1606 – 25 October 1613
Appointed by	James I
Preceded by	Sir Francis Gawdy
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Hobart
Attorney General for England and Wales
In office 10 April 1594 – 4 July 1606
Appointed by	Elizabeth I
Preceded by	Thomas Egerton
Succeeded by	Sir Henry Hobart
Solicitor General for England and Wales
In office 16 June 1592 – 10 April 1594
Appointed by	Elizabeth I
Preceded by	Thomas Egerton
Succeeded by	Sir Thomas Fleming
Personal details
Born	(1552-02-01)1 February 1552 Mileham, Breckland, Norfolk, England
Died	3 September 1634(1634-09-03) (aged 82) Godwick, Breckland, Norfolk, England
Nationality	English
Spouse(s)	Bridget Paston (died 1598) Elizabeth Cecil (died 1646)
Alma mater	Trinity College, Cambridge
Profession	Barrister, Politician, Judge

Sir Edward Coke SL PC (/ˈkʊk/ ("cook"), formerly /ˈkuːk/; 1 February 1552 – 3 September 1634) was an English barrister, judge and, later, opposition politician, who is considered to be the greatest jurist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras. Born into a middle-class family, Coke was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, before leaving to study at the Inner Temple, where he was called to the Bar on 20 April 1578. As a barrister he took part in several notable cases, including Slade's Case, before earning enough political favour to be elected to Parliament, where he served first as Solicitor General and then as Speaker of the House of Commons. Following a promotion to Attorney General he led the prosecution in several notable cases, including those against Robert Devereux, Sir Walter Raleigh, and the Gunpowder Plot conspirators. As a reward for his services he was first knighted and then made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.