Richard Pepper Arden, 1st Baron Alvanley
Sir Richard Pepper Arden, 1st Baron Alvanley was born on 20 May 1744 in Bredbury, Chester, England. He was the son of John Arden and Mary Pepper. He was baptised on 20 June 1744 in Stockport, Cheshire, England. He married Anne Dorothea Wilbraham-Bootle, daughter of Richard Wilbraham-Bootle and Mary Bootle, on 9 September 1784. He died on 19 March 1804 at age 59. He was buried on 26 March 1804 in Rolls Chapel, London. His will was probated in April 1804.
Sir Richard Pepper Arden, 1st Baron Alvanley was educated between 1752 and 1763 in
Manchester Grammar School, Manchester. He matriculated in
Trinity College,
Cambridge University, in October 1763. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, in 1766 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). He was admitted to
Middle Temple in 1769 entitled to practice as a
Barrister. He graduated from Trinity College, Cambridge University, in 1769 with a
Master of Arts (M.A.). He was invested as a
King's Counsel (K.C.) in 1780. He held the office of
Solicitor General between 1782 and 1784. He held the office of
Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Newtown, Isle of Wight between 1783 and 1784. He held the office of
Attorney-General and Chief Justice of Chester between 1784 and 1788. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Aldborough between 1784 and 1790. He was invested as a
Privy Counsellor (P.C.) in 1788. He held the office of
Master of the Rolls on 4 June 1788. He was invested as a
Knight on 18 June 1788. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Hastings between 1790 and 1794. He held the office of Member of Parliament (M.P.) for Bath between 1794 and 1801. He held the office of
Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in May 1801. He was created 1st Baron Alvanley, of Alvanley, on 22 May 1801.
Quoting from Cokayne: The Complete Peerage - "He was not a man of great oratorical powers, but possessed the qualities of intelligence, readiness and wit... It would be vain to claim any great distinction for Lord Alvanley. He was a learned lawyer and a successful politician... the few productions that remain from his pen evince refinement, taste and facility of expression." He has an extensive biographical entry in the
Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press).
