Heath, Robert, Sir (1575-1649) | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Sir Robert Heath was born on May 20, 1575 in Brasted, Kent to Anne Posyer (1545-1626) and Robert Heath (1535-1615), a lawyer. Heath studied at Tonbridge School (1582-1589) and St John's College, Cambridge (-1592) before entering Clifford's Inn in 1592. He moved to the Inner Temple in 1593 and became utter barrister in 1603. Heath held several positions throughout his career, including Solicitor General (1620-1625), Attorney-General (1625-1631), Chief Justice of the Common Pleas (1631-1632), Chief Justice of King's Bench (1642-1645), and as a member of Parliament. He was knighted by James I in 1621.

Heath married Margaret Miller (1578-1647) in 1600; the two shared six children. Around the time of the Siege of Oxford, Heath left for France, some describing his departure as exile. Margaret spent this time (1646 until her death) in Brasted. Heath died in Calais, France, on August 20, 1649.

Cambridge University Alumni, 1261-1900. Record in ancestry.com, accessed 10/17/06.

Kopperman, Paul E. "Heath, Sir Robert (1575–1649), judge." In Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press, last modified January 3, 2008. https://doi.org/10.1093/ref:odnb/12842