Family and Education

b. 19 Jan. 1780, 1st s. of Rev. John Dodson, DD, rector of Yoxall, Staffs. and Hurstpierpoint, Suss. by Frances, da. of Rev. John Dawson of Stapenhill, Staffs. educ. Merchant Taylors’ 1790; Oriel, Oxf. 1797; M. Temple 1807, called 1834. m. 24 Dec. 1822, Frances Priscilla, da. and coh. of George Pearson, MD, of London and Tyers Hill, Yorks., 1s. suc. fa. 1807; kntd. 29 Oct. 1834.

Offices Held

Adv. Doctors’ Commons 1808; commissary to the dean and chapter of Westminster 1808; Admiralty adv. 1829-34; King’s adv. 1834-52; bencher, M. Temple 1835, reader 1838, treasurer 1841; vicar-gen. to abp. of Canterbury 1849-52; PC 5 Apr. 1852; judge of PCC 1852-7; dean of the arches 1852-d.

Biography

Dodson, a rising civil lawyer and editor of the Admiralty Reports 1811-22, filled the seat at Rye vacated by the death of its patron Thomas Phillipps Lamb. The Treasury was normally able to nominate to both seats there, but Dodson had a connexion with the borough through his younger brother, the Reverend William Dodson, who had married Lamb’s eldest daughter and was thus an influential member of the corporation. He voted in the government majority on the blasphemous libels bill, 23 Dec. 1819, and later received all his major legal appointments from Tory ministries. He is not known to have spoken in the House before 1820. He died 27 Apr. 1858.

Ref Volumes: 1790-1820

Author: J. M. Collinge

Notes