Charles Wetherell

Sir Charles Wetherell (1770 – 17 August 1846) was an English lawyer, politician, and judge.

Life Wetherell was born in Oxford, the third son of Reverend Nathan Wetherell, of Durham, Master of the University College and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford. His mother was Richarda Croke (c.1743-1812), sister of Sir Alexander Croke, of Studley Priory, Oxfordshire. He was educated at St Paul's School, London and matriculated at University College in 1786. He was a demy at Magdalen College, Oxford from 1788 to 1791, graduating B.A. in 1790 and M.A. in 1793.

Wetherell was a Member of Parliament (MP) for a considerable period, representing Rye from 1812 to 1813, Shaftesbury from 1813 to 1818, and Oxford from 1820 to 1826. He was elected MP for Hastings in 1826 but had to stand down when appointed Attorney-General. He represented Plympton Erle from December 1826 to 1830 and Boroughbridge from 1830 to 1832.

He was Solicitor-General between 1824 and 1826 and Attorney General between 20 September 1826 and 27 April 1827, and again between 19 February 1828 and 29 June 1829. In May 1829, Wetherell made a violent speech in opposition to Catholic Emancipation, and was dismissed by the Duke of Wellington. He was Recorder of Bristol during the riots of 1831. From 1835 up to his death in 1846, he was Chancellor of Durham.

Family Wetherell was twice married, first in 1826, with his cousin Jane Sarah Elizabeth Croke (1804–1831). They had a son, Charles, who died in infancy. In 1838, he married Harriet Elizabeth Warneford (1803-1861), daughter and heiress of Colonel Francis Warneford, of Warneford Place. The marriage was notably unhappy and produced no children; upon his death in 1846 she inherited the bulk of his estate.