SOMERS, JOHN, BARON SOMERS
Arms.—Quarterly.
1st and 4th; vert, a fess dancetty erm. Somers.
2nd and 3rd; quarterly, vert and gu., a fess dancetty erm., in chief a lion passant between 2 hawks arg. Somers of Worcestershire.
Coronet.—That of a Baron.
Supporters.—2 lions erm., each charged on the neck with a fess dancetty vert.
Motto.—Prodesse quam conspici.
[Common Prayer. Oxford, 1700.]
Variety.—Used between 1688 and 1697.
Arms.—Vert, a fess dancetty erm.
Crest.—A coat of mail hanging on a laurel tree ppr.
Helmet.—That of a Knight.
[Echard. Roman History. London, 1695.]
John Somers (born 4th March 1650, died 26th April 1716) was son of John Somers of Clifton-on-Severn. He was educated at Worcester and Oxford, and became a Bencher of the Middle Temple in 1689.
Mr. Somers became Solicitor-General in 1688, when he received the honour of Knighthood, and he represented Worcester in Parliament. Sir John was sworn of the Privy Council in 1693, and shortly afterwards was made Lord Keeper of the Great Seal, Speaker of the House of Lords, and Lord Chancellor. In 1697 he was created Baron Somers of Evesham. Lord Somers was President of the Royal Society. In 1701 he was impeached in the Commons for various supposed misdemeanours, but the charge was dismissed.
The Barony of Somers became extinct at John Somers' death in 1716, but it was revived in 1784 in the person of Charles Cocks of Castleditch, M.P. for Reigate, who was a descendant of a sister of the first Lord.
