Thomas Byng

Thomas Byng (* before 1552; † December 1599 ) was an English lawyer and Regius Professor of Civil Law at Cambridge University .

family

Byng was born as the second son of John Byng from Wrotham in Kent and his wife Agnes Spencer. His older brother Robert pursued a career in the Royal Navy . In 1571, Byng married Katherine Randolph or Rendall (1553–1627). With her he had two daughters and a son. The son, Andrew Byng , was a Church of England scholar and minister . The family lived in Grantchester, not far from Cambridge .

Education and professional career

Byng received his education at, among other places, Peterhouse College at Cambridge University, where he was accepted as Sizar in 1552 . In 1555 or 1556 he received his Bachelor of Arts and was made a Fellow at his alma mater on February 16, 1558 . The following year he was awarded a Master of Arts degree . In 1565 he was responsible for the university's official correspondence. His good relations with the royal court earned Byng a royal dispensation that allowed him to retain his position as a fellow for life. In 1570 Byng received his doctorate in law . In 1572 he was, like again in 1578, deputy chancellor of the university. In addition, he taught from 1574 as Regius Professor of Civil Law. In 1594 he gave up this professorship. He was followed by John Cowell after. In 1597 he took over the presidency of the Doctors' Commons and shortly thereafter he was appointed Dean of Arches . However, he gave up both offices by May 1598. Byng died the following year and was buried in Hackney Church on December 23, 1599 .

Philosophical work

Byng made several appearances with his philosophical work. In August 1564, in the presence of Elizabeth I, he presented two theses in Latin to show that the monarchy was the best form of government and that constant changes in legislation were dangerous. He also wrote twelve iambic dimeters in Greek, which were printed in a volume of poetry in honor of Elisabeth.

literature

• Peter Stein: Byng, Thomas (d.1599) . In: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography . Oxford University Press, Oxford 2004, doi : 10.1093 / ref: odnb / 4265 ( oxforddnb.com [accessed May 21, 2014]).