Sir Alexander Cockburn, 12th Baronet

Sir Alexander James Edmund Cockburn, 12th Baronet QC (* September 24 1802 in Alzen, Transylvania, † November 20, 1880 in Mayfair ) was an English barrister, politician and judge. He was known as a womanizer and socialite.

Life

Cockburn was born in Alzen, now Altana, the son of British diplomat Alexander Cockburn and his wife Yolande, daughter of Vicomte de Vignier.

He studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge and obtained a Bachelor of Laws. In 1825 he was admitted to the Middle Temple, one of the four English Bar Associations; In 1841 he became Attorney-General. In 1847 he was elected as a member of the Liberal party in the House of Commons. In 1851 and again in 1852 he was Attorney General. In 1859 he was appointed Chief Justice of the Queen's Bench. This office was raised in 1875 to Lord Chief Justice of England and he thus the first Lord Chief Justice.

He held until his death on November 20, 1880 this office. He died of angina pectoris at his home in Hertford Street in London.