John Asgill (c. 1645 – 30 July 1711) was an English lawyer, political writer, and Member of Parliament who later served as a colonial judge in New York. He is noted for his contributions to natural law theory and for his involvement in controversies surrounding religious liberty and political dissent in late‑17th‑century England.
Early life and education
- Born in England around 1645; exact birthplace and family background are not comprehensively documented.
- Educated at the Middle Temple, one of the four Inns of Court, where he was called to the bar.
Legal and political career
- Practised as a barrister in London, gaining a reputation for erudition in both English and Roman law.
- Elected MP for the borough of Yarmouth (Isle of Wight) in the Parliament of 1681 and again in 1685.
Publications and controversies
- Author of The Law of Nature and Nations (1674), a treatise that examined natural law and its relation to international law; the work was influential in early modern legal thought.
- Wrote a series of pamphlets advocating for broader religious tolerance, including a 1684 publication that argued for the civil rights of dissenters.
- The 1684 pamphlet provoked a parliamentary inquiry; Asgill was expelled from the House of Commons in 1685 on the grounds of publishing seditious material.
Colonial service
- After his expulsion, Asgill relocated to the American colonies.
- Appointed as a judge of the Court of Vice‑Admiralty in the Province of New York in 1690, where he presided over maritime and trade cases.
- Served in this judicial capacity until his death, contributing to the development of colonial legal administration.
Later life and death
- Continued to write on legal and theological topics; his later works include The History of the Jews (1698), a historical account that combined scholarly research with moral reflections.
- Died on 30 July 1711 in New York City.
Legacy
John Asgill is remembered for his early advocacy of natural law principles and for his role in the early debates over religious freedom in England. His legal writings were cited by later jurists and scholars in the development of international law and constitutional theory.