Charles Law (British politician)

Background and education

Law was the second son of Edward Law, 1st Baron Ellenborough, by Anne Towry, daughter of Captain George Philip Towry, of Shipley, Northumberland. Edward Law, 1st Earl of Ellenborough, was his elder brother. He was educated at St John's College, Cambridge, graduating M.A. in 1812.

Law succeeded Newman Knowlys as Recorder of London in 1833 and was a Queen's Counsel. He claimed that Britain's constitutional history was that of a "Christian constitution" and supported the death penalty for un-Christian crimes, including sodomy. In total, he pronounced the sentence of death on 20 prisoners, including James Pratt and John Smith.
Law was returned to parliament as one of two representatives for Cambridge University in 1835, a seat he held until his death in 1850. While MP, Law opposed changes to prison reform, including changes to reduce Penal transportation and to reduce crimes that involved the death penalty.

Law married Elizabeth Sophia, daughter of Sir Edward Nightingale, 10th Baronet, first on 8 May 1811 at Gretna Green, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and again on 22 May 1811. They had ten children:

Law died in August 1850, aged 58. His wife survived him by 14 years and died in June 1864.