David Godson

The Honourable Counsel David Godson

Richard Godson became well known to the inhabitants of Kidderminster in the early 19th century, when he defended several carpet weavers involved in the town riots of August 1830. As a barrister and later Queen's Counsel, he took part in many trials, including notably, the defence of child murderer Celia Tippins, and the prosecution of the so-called Spanish pirates who were accused of murdering several members of Her Majesty's Navy. While still in his twenties, Richard became the author of a treatise on the law of patents for inventions and of copyright. This proved to be a seminal work, which is still recognised to the present day. In 1832 - following his success in the carpet weaver trials - Richard became the first member of parliament for the constituency of Kidderminster. Other than a period between January 1835 and July 1837, he represented the town until his death in 1849. As a politician, he was to attract criticism for changing his allegiance from radical reformer - feted by the town's working classes - to staunch Conservative. He was ridiculed by press and public alike for his shift in allegiance and became known as the 'Weathercock' MP. Although tipped for high office in both his political and legal careers, the nearest he came was when he was appointed Judge Advocate of the Fleet and Counsel to the Admiralty. Richard derived the bulk of his wealth from his marriage to the Lancashire heiress, Mary Hargreaves. The couple had homes in London and the north-east. In Lancashire, they enjoyed the comforts of Springfield Hall estate, Lancaster. The Hargreaves' fortune was derived from the products of the slave trade, including those slaves working on the Hargreaves' Pusey Hall plantation in Vere, Jamaica. When he married Mary Hargreaves in 1825, Richard Godson became joint owner of the plantation and over 200 slaves. Although publicly proclaiming that he abhorred the idea of owning slaves, he derived significant income from their exploitation and accepted generous compensation following their emancipation. He was a director of the Mutual Life Assurance Society and governor of the New Brunswick and Nova Scotia Land Company. His investment in the North American venture eventually led to his financial ruin. As this biography reveals, the aftermath created by his unexpected death at the relatively young age of 52 years, resulted in his widow, Mary, facing several cases of litigation before the High Court of Chancery for her deceased husband's debts. Richard Godson's life was a kaleidoscope of contradictions. I have set these against the backdrop of the political, economic and demographic instabilities of early Victorian England. I hope the reader will enjoy my attempt to reveal his true character - including his failures and achievements - for the attention of a wider audience.