Matthew Cleary

Thesis title: Canon-Common Law Jurisdictional Relations; The Administration of Wills in England, c. 1450-1540

Background

Matthew is a PhD researcher attached to the Centre for Legal History at the Edinburgh Law School.

Matthew graduated from the University of Western Ontario (Canada) with a M.A. degree in History in August 2019. Previously, Matthew graduated from Laurentian University (Canada) with a B.A. Spec. Hons. degree (cum laude) in History with a minor in Ancient Studies in April 2018. 

Matthew grew up in Orangeville, Ontario. 

Responsibilities & affiliations

Matthew is currently serving as a content editor for legal history for the Edinburgh Student Law Review.

Research summary

Matthew's main research interests lie in legal history, especially late medieval and early modern civil law, canon law, and jurisdictional relations. Matthew's secondary research interests include Roman law, comparative law and legal philosophy. 

Current research interests

Matthew's current research focuses on the resolution of disputes between Canon and Common lawyers during the early Tudor period (c. 1485-1540). Matthew is particularly interested in the administration of wills. Matthew makes use of his background in history to provide an interdisciplinary approach to the study of law in the past.

Past research interests

Matthew's previous research focused on the Tudor period, in relation to the right of sanctuary and the professionalization of the medicial marketplace.

Affiliated research centres

Participant

Law in Transmission: The Movement of Practices, Texts and Concepts across Time and Space, c. 400-1500. Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research - Comparative Legal History: University of St. Andrews (UK), May 22-23, 2020. 

Pathways to the Past: Modernizing History in the 21st Century. University of Western Ontario (Canada), April 26-27, 2019.

Papers delivered

"The Canon and Common Law Relationship in the Administration of Wills in England during the Late Fifteenth Century" - Law in Transmission: The Movement of Practices, Texts and Concepts across Time and Space, c. 400-1500. Institute of Legal and Constitutional Research - Comparative Legal History: University of St. Andrews (UK), May 22, 2020. 

"The Law and Medical Authority in Elizabethan England" - Pathways to the Past: Modernizing History in the 21st Century, University of Western Ontario (Canada), April 26, 2019.