James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale

James Parke, 1st Baron Wensleydale PC was a British barrister and judge. After an education at The Kings School, Macclesfield and Trinity College, Cambridge he studied under a special pleader, before being called to the Bar by the Inner Temple in 1813. Although not a particularly distinguished barrister, he was appointed to the Court of Kings Bench onNovember 1828, made a Privy Counsellor in 1833 and, a year later, a Baron of the Exchequer. He resigned his post in 1855, angered by the passing of the Common Law Procedure Acts, but was recalled by the government, who gave him a peerage as Baron Wensleydale, of Walton to allow him to undertake the Judicial functions of the House of Lords, a job he fulfilled until his death onFebruary 1868.

Parke was born onMarch 1782 in Highfield, near Liverpool, to Thomas Parke, a merchant, and his wife Anne. He studied at The Kings School, Macclesfield before matriculating to Trinity College, Cambridge onFebruary 1799, where he won the Craven scholarship, Sir William Brownes gold medal, and was fifth wrangler and senior chancellors medallist in classics. He gained a Bachelor of Arts in 1802 and a Master of Arts in 1804. Although admitted to Lincolns Inn onMay 1803, he transferred to the Inner Temple onApril 1812, and after studying with a special pleader was called to the Bar in 1813.

Source: Wikipedia