Sir Henry Pollexfen (1632 – 15 June 1691) of Nutwell in the parish of Woodbury, Devon, was Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas.
Origins.
According to Eliott-Drake (1911), he was the eldest son of Andrew Pollexfen (a younger grandson of John Pollexfen of Kitley in the parish of Yealmpton in Devon) of Stancombe Dawney in the parish of Sherford, Devon, by his wife, Joan Woollcombe, a daughter of John Woollcombe of Pitton in the parish of Yealmpton in Devon. Henry was the elder brother of John Pollexfen, MP, the political economist. This parentage differs from that given in the pedigree in the "Heraldic Visitations of Devon" (1895 edition), which therefore appears unreliable.
Career.
He entered Inner Temple in 1652, was called to the bar in 1658 and by 1662 he was pleading before the high courts at Westminster Hall. In 1674 he became a bencher at Inner Temple, and was the leading practitioner on the western circuit, frequently pleading at the King's Bench. In 1676 he defended Stockbridge, Hampshire on a "Quo warranto" charge, which he lost. He frequently acted as counsel in various politically charged cases, and regularly lost; clients included the lords involved in the Popish Plot, the Earl of Danby and as one of many counsel for Edward Fitzharris, Stephen College and Algernon Sidney, all of whom were later executed. 
Along with Sir George Treby and Sir Francis Winnington he defended London on a second "Quo warranto" charge in 1683, arguing that Corporations could not be charged for the wrongdoing of individuals. He lost, and in 1684 was asked to take a similar case for Berwick-upon-Tweed, this time advising surrender.
In 1688 he was made a justice, and advised the House of Lords on the legality of "Quo warranto" seizures. After William III arrived in 1688 he was a close advisor, and helped persuade him to declare himself King, arguing that the throne was vacant due to James fleeing, saying James 'went away because the terror of his own conscience frighted him and he durst stay no longer'. 
William did not make himself King according to Pollexfen's advice, but in reward for his services Pollexfen was knighted and made Attorney General for England and Wales in March, and appointed Chief Justice of the Common Pleas on 6 May 1689. In late 1689 he was elected Member of Parliament representing Exeter at the 1689 Convention Parliament, where William was officially offered the crown.
Marriage and children.
In 1664, aged 32, he married Mary Duncombe, a daughter of George Duncombe (d.1677) of Weston in the parish of Albury and of Shalford in Surrey, and sister of Sir Francis Duncombe, 1st Baronet (died 1670) of Tangley Park in Surrey, by whom he had issue one son (who died childless) and four daughters as follows:
Death.
After serving as Chief Justice for two years Pollexfen died of a burst blood vessel at his home in Lincoln's Inn Fields on 15 June 1691.
References.
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