Francis Newbolt

• Name — Sir Francis George Newbolt • Born — 22 November 1863 • Died — 7 December 1940 • Other Names — Frank Newbolt, Bradnock Hall • Occupation — Barrister Judge • Known for — Law, etching

Newbolt was born in Bilston, Wolverhampton, son of the vicar of St Mary's Church, the Rev. Henry Francis Newbolt (1824–1866), and his second wife, Emily née Stubbs (1838–1921). He was the younger brother to poet Sir Henry Newbolt. He was educated at Clifton College, and later at Balliol College, Oxford where he read Natural Science (Chemistry) obtaining honours in 1887.

Newbolt went on to read law with Sir Thomas Chitty, 1st Baronet, his brother-in-law. He was invited to join the Bar at Inner Temple in 1890 before taking silk in 1914. One of his first cases was representing the plaintiff, John William Phillips, landlord of Hoy and Helmet, South Benfleet against the Marquis of Queensberry in the High Court. During the First World War he was an honorary legal advisor to the British government. In 1916 he was appointed the Recorder of Doncaster, a position he held until 1920. In 1919 he was elected Chairman of the Devon Quarter Session. In 1920 he was made the Official Referee for the Supreme Court by the Lord Chancellor F. E. Smith, 1st Earl of Birkenhead. In 1923, Newbolt recommended that medical evidence should be used in paternity cases due to the issue of perjury. He stated that a defendant rarely shows any hesitation about committing perjury and that a doctor's report, if not in his favour, might deter him from swearing to the contrary His recommendations were not taken forward at the time due to the limitations in medical science. However, Newbolt's innovation in micro caseflow management, now called Newbolt's Scheme, was at first rejected by the Lord Chancellor Birkenhead, before being seen more favourably by Lord Birkenhead's successor and continued by Newbolt's successors as Official Referee. Newbolt described the system, The true fashion of the courts is... not to conciliate or exhort the parties, much less to hurry them... but to use the available machinery of litigation to enable them to settle their disputes according to law without grievous waste and unnecessary delay Newbolt retired from the post in 1936. In 1939, Newbolt represented Jacob Epstein at a military tribune as part of T. E. Hulme's campaign to stop him being called up.

Newbolt was a talented engraver. He was a regular exhibitor at the Royal Society of Painter-Etchers and Engravers, which he was an associate member and the society's historian, and various major art exhibitions. Newbolt regularly displayed his etchings at the Royal Academy of Art. His work exhibited included The Funeral in 1921, Barton Broad in 1923, Taormina in 1929 and Treworan Bridge in 1930. Newbolt was elected as a member of the Art Workers' Guild in 1907. The British Museum hold 36 of Newbolt's etchings.

In 1910 Newbolt stood for the Liberal Party in the parliamentary constituency of Chertsey. Newbolt continued his love of science, delivering over 1000 lectures to school children. Newbolt was Chancellor of the Diocese of Exeter and Bradford. In 1921, The Church Times criticised Newbolt's decision on a crucifix case.

Newbolt was a keen salmon and trout fisherman. He married Alice Clara Franck Bright, daughter of James Franck Bright, in 1889; and they had four daughters. They lived in Aylesbeare in Devon. Lady Newbolt died in 1934 at the age of 67 leaving Newbolt a widower. Newbolt himself died on 7 December 1940.