By Statute B.VI as amended by Grace 6 of 20 June 1936 the Commissary is required to certify that charges laid before the Septemviri are fit or not fit to be entertained. Appointment is by the Chancellor, by Letters Patent. For a brief account of the office see E. S. Leedham-Green, 'The duties of the office are negligible, but its honour is considerable', Cambridge 26 (1990) 11-15.
1293 John de Bradenham
For many years it was usual for there to be two Counsel retained to advise the
University in matters of law. The custom fell into disuse but was reinstated in 1915.
1509 Nichols, George
Office created 1975? Two-year term of office.
1975 Tiley, John M.A.
Created at same time as University Advocate
1975 Thomas, David Arthur M.A., LL.B.
1464 Parmenter, John
1501 Jackson, ?. LL.D.
1520 Wakefield, William ?B.Can.L.
1578 Ithell, Thomas LL.D.; Master of JE
1579 Legge, Thomas LL.D.; Master of CAI
1605 Hill, Otwell M.A.; Fellow of JN (jointly with Legge)
1610 Newcome, Robert LL.D.
1615 Gooch (Goche), Barnabas LL.D.; Master of M
1625 Smithson, John Fellow of K
1638 Eden, Charles M.A.; Fellow of TH (d. 1647/8)
1638 King, Robert LL.D.; Fellow of TH
1656 Twells, Robert LL.B.; Fellow of TH (LL.D. 1671)
1696 Pashly, William M.A.; Fellow of JE
[1708-14] Perne, John [Deputy Acting Commissary]
1714 Bramston, William LL.D.
1726 Greaves, William M.A.; Fellow of CL
1779 Pemberton, Andrew M.A.; Fellow of PET
1784 Pemberton, Jeremiah M.A.; Fellow of PEM
1790 Fisher, John [2] LL.D.; Fellow of CHR
1814 Harrison, Thomas [2] M.A.; Fellow of Q
1824 Pollock, Jonathan Frederick, Sir M.A.; Fellow of T
1834 Hildyard, John M.A.
1855 Selwyn, Charles Jasper, Sir (LL.D., 1862)
1868 Forsyth, William M.A.; Fellow of T
1893 Forsyth, William M.A.; Fellow of T re-appointed
1900 Rawlinson, John Frederick Peel, Rt Hon. LL.M.
1926 Macnaghten, Malcolm Martin, Hon. Sir
1955 McNair, Arnold Duncan, Sir Baron McNair of Gleniffer, 1955
1968 Morris of Borth-y-Gest, John William Baron; M.A.
1979 Salmon, Cyril Barnet, Rt Hon. Lord Salmon; (resigned 1989:09:31)
1989 Oliver, Peter Raymond, Rt Hon. Lord Oliver
1561 Gerard, Gilbert, Sir (d. 1593)
1581 Brograve, John, Sir (d. 1613)
1581 Yelverton, Christopher, Sir (d. 1612)
1586 Coke, Edward, Sir (d. 1634)
1586 Egerton, Thomas, Sir (d. 1617)
1586 Ellis, Edward
1587 Andrews, Thomas LL.B.; (d. 1585)
1597 Ellis, William
1600? Hesketh, Thomas, Sir
1604 Binge, Henry
1613 Bacon, Francis, Sir (d. 1626)
1614 Yelverton, Henry, Sir (d. 1629)
1617 Coventry, Thomas, Sir (d. 1640)
1625 Shelton, Richard, Sir (d. 1647); Otherwise 'Sheldon' or 'Shilton'.
1631 Noy/e, William (d. 1634)
1634 Bankes, John, Sir (d. 1644)
1635 Lane, Richard [1], Sir (d. 1650)
1638 Knightbridge, John
1641 Fountaine, John (d. 1671)
1641 Herbert, Edward, Sir (d. 1657)
1642 Bridgeman, Orlando, Sir (d. 1674)
1645 Hale, Matthew, Sir (d. 1676)
1645 Reading, John
1646 Barnard, Robert
1647 Glynne, John, Sir (d. 1666)
1660 Allen, John
1663 Thursby, William
1665 Bramston, Francis (d. 1682)
1666 Coell, John, Sir
1671 Buck, Samuel vice Fountaine
1678 Wright, Robert, Sir (d. 1689)
1684 Montagu, Oliver, Hon.
1698 Montagu, James, Sir (d. 1723)
1718 Raymond, Robert, Sir (d. 1733)
1718 Reynolds, James (d. 1739)
1719 Mede, Samuel
1724 Yorke, Philip Sir
1733 Noel, John
1733 Willes, John, Sir (d. 1761)
1738 Fazakerley, Nicholas (d. 1767)
1757 Yorke, Charles, Hon.
1767 Hoskins, Edmund
1770 Cust, Francis
1770 Grey, William de
1771 Jackson, Robert (d. 1787)
1787 Graham, Robert, Sir Fellow of T (d. 1836)
1791 Blanc, Simon Le, Sir Fellow of TH (d. 1816)
1799 Leycester, Hugh Fellow of K
1800 Perceval, Spencer, Hon.
1807 Lens, John Fellow of DOW (d. 1825)
1811 Dampier, Henry, Sir Fellow of K (d. 1816)
1813 Littledale, Joseph, Sir Fellow of JN (d. 1842)
1825 Alderson, Edward Hall, Sir Fellow of CAI (d. 1857)
1825 Starkie, Thomas [2] Downing Professor of the Laws of England
1825 Tindal, Nicholas Conyngham, Sir Fellow of T
1830 Bickersteth, Henry Fellow of CAI (d. 1851)
1836 Follett, William Webb, Sir (d. 1845)
1841 Cowling, John Fellow of JN
1857 Baily, John Fellow of JN
1857 Denman, George, Hon. Fellow of T
1867 Druce, George Fellow of PET vice Baily
1869 Baggallay, Richard, Sir (d. 1888); Fellow of CAI vice Druce
1872 Stephen, James Fitzjames, Sir vice Denman; (d. 1894)
1875 Hemming, George Wirgman Fellow of JN Resigned, 1887
1879-1914 Cohen, Arthur vice Stephen
1915 Foote, John Alderson K.C.; vice Hemming
1915 Romer, Mark Lemon K.C.; vice Cohen
1922 Appointments discontinued
1977 Thomas, David Arthur M.A., LL.B.
1979 Hayton, David John M.A.
1981 Markesinis, Basil Spyridonos Ph.D.
1982 Glazebrook, Peter Rowland M.A.
1984-86 Napier, Brian William Ph.D.
1986 Gray, Kevin John Ph.D.
1988 Harpum, Charles M.A.
1990 Greenwood, Christopher John M.A., LL.B.
1992 Smith, Anthony Terry Hanmer
1994 Forsyth, Christopher Forbes
1997 Lowe, Alan Vaughan
1999 Padfield, Nicola Margaret F
1977 Hayton, David John M.A.
1979 Markesinis, Basil Spyridonos Ph.D.
1981 Glazebrook, Peter Rowland M.A.
1982-84 Napier, Brian William Ph.D.
1984 Gray, Kevin John Ph.D.
1986 Harpum, Charles M.A.
1988 Grubb, Andrew M.A.
1990 Andrews, Neil Howard
1992 Forsyth, Christopher Forbes
1994 Lowe, Alan Vaughan
1997 Padfield, Nicola Margaret
1999 Rogerson, Philippa Jane CAI