Ralph Whitfield

Sir Ralph Whitfield (1588–1645) was an English lawyer, judge and landowner, who sat as a Member of Parliament and held several public offices.

[1] His great-grandfather Robert Whitfield (c.1453–1541), from Alston Moor in Cumberland, had settled at Wadhurst in Sussex and a great-uncle had built the historic house of Rowfant at Worth.

Trained in law at Gray's Inn, where he was admitted on 3 February 1608, by 1621 Whitfield was acting as counsel for the Cinque Ports and in 1622 inherited his father's estate.

On 4 October 1635 he was knighted at Hampton Court Palace[2] and appointed a judge of oyer and terminer and of gaol delivery for London and Middlesex.

[1] Investing the considerable profits of his career in real estate, he acquired the manor of Burmarsh in Kent[5] and lands at Wivenhoe in Essex as well as a house in the Barbican, London.