A Taxor was a representative of the

University of Cambridge The University of Cambridge is a Public university, public collegiate university, collegiate research university in Cambridge, England. Founded in 1209, the University of Cambridge is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation, wo ...

who exercised the University's rights to intervene in trade in the town of

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

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. One senior and one junior taxor was elected each year, and each had to be an MA of the University. These posts have not been filled since 1856.

Historical background

Since the 13th century the University had special privileges and jurisdiction to control aspects of life in the town. Matters relating to morality and discipline were managed by

Proctors Proctor's Theatre (officially stylized as Proctors since 2007; however, the marquee retains the apostrophe) is a theatre and former vaudeville house located in Schenectady, New York, United States. Many famous artists have performed there, includ ...

and those relating to trade were managed by Taxors, whose responsibilities included: *Licensing of Alehouses and Lodging-houses *Fixing the rent of scholar's lodgings and the price of bread *Examining and sealing weights and measures, confiscating any that were defective *Administering Stourbridge fair (until 1589) By the first half of the nineteenth century Benthamite reform had transformed the role of the borough and increasingly the trade and financial privileges of the University caused friction between "town and gown", with the town's deputy High Steward declaring in 1842 that supervision of weights and measures by Taxors was "''quite inadequate for the purpose at the present day.''" In 1853-4, conflict between the growing jurisdiction of magistrates' courts and the historical duties of the University

was the trigger for a schism between the University and the Borough. The University suggested that the dispute be referred to parliament and Sir John Patteson was appointed as arbitrator to consider their differences. His 1855 report recommended that Proctors should not have to submit to the jurisdiction of magistrates, but called on the University to surrender its rights over trade and licensing. When his proposals were enacted as the Cambridge Award Act 1856, the office of Taxor was discontinued.

References

{{reflist 1856 disestablishments Terminology of the University of Cambridge History of Cambridge History of the University of Cambridge Legal professions English legal terminology