Brent Spencer Follett QC (1810 – 23 January 1887) was a British
Conservative
Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...
politician and barrister. Born at Topham, he was the fourth son of Benjamin Follett and his wife Ann Webb, daughter of John Webb. His older brother was
William Webb Follett
Sir William Webb Follett, QC (2 December 179628 June 1845) was an English lawyer and politician who served as Member of Parliament (United Kingdom), MP for Exeter (UK Parliament constituency), Exeter (1835–1845). He served twice as Solicitor ...
(1796-1845), MP and
Solicitor General
A solicitor general is a government official who serves as the chief representative of the government in courtroom proceedings. In systems based on the English common law that have an attorney general or equivalent position, the solicitor general ...
. He was a student of the
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as the Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court and is a professional association for barristers and judges. To be called to the Bar and practice as a barrister in England and Wa ...
from 17 March 1828 and then went to the
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...
on 21 November 1829, where he was
called to the bar
The call to the bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received "call to ...
on 7 June 1833.
He became a
Queen's Counsel
A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...
on 11 July 1851 and a
bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales or the Inns of Court in Northern Ireland, or the Honorable Society of King's Inns in Ireland. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher c ...
four months later on 3 November 1851. In 1852, he entered the
House of Commons
The House of Commons is the name for the elected lower house of the Bicameralism, bicameral parliaments of the United Kingdom and Canada. In both of these countries, the Commons holds much more legislative power than the nominally upper house of ...
for
Bridgwater
Bridgwater is a historic market town and civil parish in Somerset, England. The town had a population of 41,276 at the 2021 census. Bridgwater is at the edge of the Somerset Levels, in level and well-wooded country. The town lies along both sid ...
, representing the constituency as a Member of Parliament (MP) until 1857. With the
Land Registry Act 1862
The Land Registry Act 1862 ( 25 & 26 Vict. c. 53) was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It was the country's first attempt at a system of universal land registration, specifically a title register, applying to England and Wales. I ...
, Follett became the first Chief Land Registrar of the new created
HM Land Registry
His Majesty's Land Registry is a non-ministerial department of His Majesty's Government, created in 1862 to register the ownership of land and property in England and Wales. It reports to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Governme ...
, a post he held until his death in 1887.
On 14 October 1848 at Stockport, he married Caroline Amelia Skirrow, youngest daughter of Walter Skirrow. They had two sons, John Skirrow Follett and William Webb Spencer Follett who would both become barristers.