to the degree of the coif, was appointed lord chief justice of the common pleas, in the place of Sir Thomas Wilde, who had been raised to the woolsack with the title of Baron Truro. Jervis was sworn a member of the privy council on 14 Aug. 1850, and took his seat on the judicial bench for the first time at the opening of Michaelmas term (Common Bench Reports, x. 2). He presided over the court for six years, and died suddenly at his house in Eaton Square on 1 Nov. 1856, aged 54.
Jervis was a man of considerable abilities, his chief characteristic being the rapidity with which he seized upon the real point of the case and the soundness of the judgment which he then and there formed upon it. He was somewhat impatient of argument, and at times betrayed irritability on the bench. His judgments were remarkable for their terse and lucid language and strong masculine sense. In 1824 he married Catherine Jane, second daughter of Alexander Mundell of Great George Street, Westminster. He left five children, viz.: John, who was called to the bar at the Middle Temple 12 Jan. 1849, and died 8 July 1860; Edward Lennox, born in 1834, late major 6th dragoon guards; Philip Vincent, who died 26 March 1863; Annie, who was married to John Scott Bankes of Soughton Hall, Flintshire, on 2 Aug. 1849; and Grace Catherine, who was married first, on 12 Dec. 1861, to Edward John Parker-Jervis, and secondly, in June 1873, to William T. Locker. Lady Jervis survived her husband, and died on 26 Aug. 1862.
Jervis was appointed on 13 May 1850 president of the commission for inquiring into ‘the process, practice, and system of pleading’ in the common law courts. The first and second reports of this commission are signed by him (Parl. Papers, 1851 vol. xxii., 1852–3 vol. xl.) He was one of the originators of, and a principal contributor to, the ‘Jurist,’ the first number of which appeared on 14 Jan. 1837. Besides editing the fourth and the four subsequent editions of Archbold's ‘Summary of the Law relative to Pleading and Evidence in Criminal Cases,’ he wrote the following legal works: 1. ‘Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Courts of Exchequer and Exchequer Chamber, at Law, in Equity, and in Error, from Michaelmas Term 7 Geo. IV (to Hilary Term 10 & 11 Geo. IV), &c. By Edward Younge and John Jervis … Barristers-at-Law,’ London, 1828–30, 8vo, 3 vols. 2. ‘A Practical Treatise on the Office and Duties of Coroners; with an Appendix of Forms and Precedents,’ London, 1829, 12mo; 2nd edit. by W. N. Welsby, London, 1854, 12mo; 3rd edit. by C. W. Lovesy, London, 1866, 12mo; 4th edit. by Rudolph E. Melsheimer, London, 1880, 8vo; 5th edit. by Rudolph E. Melsheimer, London, 1888, 8vo. 3. ‘All the Rules of the Courts of King's Bench and Common Pleas and Exchequer since the Statute of 1 Will. IV, c. 70. [Edited] with Notes and an Index by John Jervis,’ London, 1832, 12mo; 2nd edit. London, 1832, 8vo; 4th edit. London, 1839, 8vo. 4. ‘Reports of Cases argued and determined in the Courts of Exchequer and Exchequer Chamber from Easter Term 11 Geo. IV (to Trinity Term 2 Will. IV), &c. By Charles Crompton … and John Jervis … Barristers-at-Law,’ London, 1832–3, 8vo, 2 vols.
[Law Magazine and Review, 1857, ii. 302–7; Jurist, 1856, new ser. vol. ii. pt. ii. p. 458; Law Times, xxviii. 85–6; Foss's Judges of England, 1864, ix. 216–18; Ann. Reg. 1856, App. to Chron. pp. 277–8; Gent. Mag. 1838 new ser. x. 445, 1849 new ser. xxxii. 314, 1856 new ser. i. 772–3, 1862 new ser. xii. 84, 1863 new ser. xiv. 669; Illustrated London News, 8 Nov. 1856; Burke's Peerage, 1888, p. 1220; Whishaw's Synopsis of the Bar, 1835, p. 76; Alumni Westmon. 1852, pp. 553, 554; Official List of Members of Parliament, pt. ii. pp. 340, 352, 364, 380, 398; Brit. Mus. Cat.]
JERVIS, Sir JOHN JERVIS WHITE (1766–1830), miscellaneous writer, eldest son of John Jervis-White of Bally Ellis, co. Wexford, barrister-at-law, was born 10 June 1766, graduated B.A. as a fellow-commoner at Dublin University, became barrister-at-law and LL.D., by royal license assumed the name of Jervis in addition to that of White, and was created a baronet of Ireland 10 Nov. 1797. This was probably a reward for having in the previous year raised a corps of volunteers, whom he equipped at his own expense. He again raised and equipped a corps in Somerset in 1803. Jervis died in 1830. He was twice married, and was succeeded by his eldest surviving son, Sir Henry Meredyth Jervis White Jervis (1793–1869), who was a commander in the royal navy.
Jervis wrote: 1. ‘A Refutation of M. M. de Montgaillard's Calumnies against British Policy, and of his Display of the Situation of Great Britain in the year 1811,’ 1812. 2. ‘A Brief View of the Past and Present State of Ireland,’ Bath, 1813. 3. ‘A Brief Statement of the Rise, Progress, and Decline of the Ancient Christian Church,’ Dublin, 1813, 8vo.
[Foster's Baronetage and Knightage, 1882, p. 656; Burke's Peerage and Baronetage, 1890, p. 759; Brit. Mus. Cat.; Addit. MS. 23684, f. 87; Taylor's Univ. of Dublin, p. 469.]
