Francis Plowden (barrister)

Francis Plowden (1749 – 1829) was an English barrister, legal writer, and Roman Catholic historian. He was born in London on June 28, 1749, into a Roman Catholic family with long roots in Shropshire.

Plowden was educated at the English Jesuit College of St. Omer in France. He returned to England and was called to the bar at the Middle Temple in 1778. He practiced law with considerable success, specializing in property law and conveyancing.

Plowden was a prolific writer, primarily on legal and historical topics. He is best known for his five-volume Historical Review of the State of Ireland, published in 1803. This work, while comprehensive, was highly controversial due to its strongly pro-Catholic and anti-government stance regarding the events surrounding the Act of Union in 1800. It drew significant criticism and accusations of bias. He also wrote A Short History of the British Empire, The Case Stated, and several other legal treatises.

His outspoken political views and controversial writings led to legal difficulties and eventual financial hardship. In 1813, he was sued for libel and found guilty, resulting in a fine and imprisonment. Following this, he emigrated to the United States in 1817, hoping to establish himself in a new legal environment.

He settled in Philadelphia and attempted to practice law, but his lack of familiarity with American legal procedures hindered his success. He continued to write, publishing Human Subordination.

Francis Plowden died in 1829 in London, where he had returned after his time in America. He is remembered for his contribution to legal scholarship, his advocacy for Catholic rights, and his contentious historical interpretations.