Thomas Bury 1652-1722

Sir Thomas BURY 1652-1722

Bury's bookplate (British Museum Franks Collection *403)

Biographical Note

Born at Grantham, younger son of Sir William Bury of Linwood, Lincolnshire. BA Lincoln College, Oxford 1668; admitted at Gray's Inn the same year (barrister, 1676. He developed a legal career in Lincoln, where he became counsel for the city in 1681, and recorder in 1700. The following year he resigned that post to become a judge in London, as a Baron of the Exchequer; he was then knighted. He became Chief Baron in 1716. He was elected a fellow of the Royal Society in 1718.

Books

Bury used an engraved armorial bookplate, dated 1703 (Franks 4584/*403). The extent and disposition of his library are not known. He was unmarried and in his will, his estate was variously divided between his brother, nephews and nieces; all the residue of the estate went to his brother Gilbert.

Sources

• Will of Sir Thomas Bury, The National Archives PROB 11/585/93.
• Gambier Howe, E. R. J. Franks bequest: catalogue of British and American book plates bequeathed to the ... British Museum. London, 1903-4.
• Handley, Stuart. "Bury, Sir Thomas (bap. 1652, d. 1722), judge." Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.