John Romilly, 1st Baron Romilly PC (20 January 1802 – 23 December 1874), known as Sir John Romilly between 1848 and 1866, was an English Whig politician and judge. He served in Lord John Russell's first administration as Solicitor General from 1848 to 1850 and as Attorney General from 1850 and 1851. The latter year he was appointed Master of the Rolls, a post he held until 1873. Knighted in 1848, he was ennobled as Baron Romilly in 1866.
Contents
Early life
Romilly was born in London, the second son of Sir Samuel Romilly and the former Anne Garbett, a daughter of Francis Garbett of Knill Court, Herefordshire. After serving as Solicitor General for England and Wales, his father became a Member of Parliament for Horsham, Wareham, Arundel, and Westminster. Among his siblings was sister Sophia Romilly (wife of Thomas Francis Kennedy, MP for Ayr Burghs), and younger brothers Charles Romilly (who married Lady Georgiana Russell, a daughter of John Russell, 6th Duke of Bedford), Frederick Romilly (who served as MP for Canterbury).
He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge, and was called to the Bar at Gray's Inn, in 1827.