Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro
Thomas Wilde, 1st Baron Truro (
7 July 1782-
1855),
Lord Chancellor of
England was the second son of Thomas Wilde, an attorney. He was born in
London and educated at
St Paul's School and was admitted an attorney in
1805. He subsequently entered the
Inner Temple and was called to the bar in
1817, having practised for two years before as a special pleader. Retained for the defence of
Queen Caroline in
1820 he distinguished himself by his cross-examination and laid the foundation of an extensive common law practice. He first entered parliament in the
Whig interest as member for Newark (
1831-
1832 and
1835-
1841), afterwards representing Worcester (
1841-
1846). He was appointed
Solicitor-General in
1839, and became
Attorney-General in succession to
Sir John Campbell in 1841. In
1846 he was appointed chief justice of the common pleas, an office he held until
1850, when he became
Lord Chancellor, and was created
Baron Truro of Bowes, Middlesex. He held this latter office until the fall of the
Russell ministry in
1852. He died in London in November
1855.