A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices/Best, William Draper
Admitted 9 October, 1784.
Third son of Thomas Best, of Haselbury, Somerset, where he was born 13 Dec. 1767. He was educated at Oxford, and called to the Bar 6 Nov. 1789. He early acquired a large practice, and became a Serjeant-at-Law in 1800. In 1802 he entered Parliament as member for Petersfield, and was engaged in the impeachment of Lord Melville. He enjoyed the favour of the Prince of Wales, whose Attorney-General he was, and in 1818 he became a Judge of the King's Bench. Five years later he was advanced to the head of the Court of Common Pleas, but on account of bodily infirmities was obliged to retire in 1829, when, as a mark of royal favour, he was raised to the peerage, with the title of Baron Wynford. He died at his seat in Kent 3 March, 1845.