William Aubrey

William Aubrey (c.1529 – 25 June 1595) was Regius Professor of Civil Law at the University of Oxford from 1553 to 1559, and was one of the founding Fellows of Jesus College, Oxford. He was also a MP.

Early life and Oxford University

Aubrey was born in Brecknockshire. After being educated at what later became Christ College, Brecon, Aubrey went to Oxford University, becoming a Fellow of All Souls College, Oxford in 1547. He obtained a BCL degree in 1549 and was appointed Principal of New Inn Hall, Oxford in 1550. In 1553, he succeeded Robert Weston as Regius Professor of Civil Law. He held the position until 1559, when he was succeeded by John Griffith.cite web|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/887 |title=Aubrey, William (c.1529–1595) |last=Watkin |first=Thomas Glyn |work=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online edition, subscription required) |publisher=Oxford University Press |date=January 2008| accessdate=2008-02-24] In 1571, he was named in the founding charter as one of the original eight fellows of Jesus College, Oxford. [cite web|url=http://www.jesus.ox.ac.uk/history/founders.php|title=Jesus College, Oxford – The Founders | date=14 November 2000|publisher=Jesus College, Oxford |accessdate=2008-02-24] He obtained the degree of DCL in 1554 and the following year he was made a Master in Chancery.

Legal and political work

In 1562, Aubrey was a member of the commission set up by Matthew Parker, Archbishop of Canterbury that declared unlawful the marriage of Lady Catherine Grey to Henry Herbert (son of the 1st Earl of Pembroke. He was one of the signatories of the opinion that John Lesley (Bishop of Ross and an ambassador for Mary, Queen of Scots) could be tried in England for intriguing against Queen Elizabeth.

He was MP for various constituencies: Carmarthen Boroughs (1554), Brecon (1558), Hindon (1559), Arundel (1563), and Taunton (1592). He was a member of the Council of Wales and the Marches from 1586. He was also auditor and vicar-general of the Province of Canterbury under Archbishop Grindal, retaining his position as vicar-general under Archbishop Whitgift.

Death

Aubrey died in London in 1595 and was buried in Old St Paul's Cathedral.

References