† 1. gen. A legal representative or deputy acting under a general commission or ‘power’ of attorney, and representing his principal in all legal matters: opposed to attorney special or particular. Plural: attorneys general. Obs.
[1292. Britton, VI. x. § 2. Touz attournez generals purrount lever fins et cirographer. (Nichols transl., All general attorneys may levy fines and make chirographs.)]
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 203. Call in his Letters Patents that he hath By his Atturneyes generall to sue His Liuerie.
1717. Blount, Law Dict., s.v., Atturney General is he, who by general authority is appointed to manage all our affairs or Suits … Attorney Special or Particular is he that is imployed in one or more Causes particularly specified.
2. spec. Attorney-General, Attorney General: a legal officer of the state empowered to act in all cases in which the state is a party. In England, Ireland, Isle of Man, most of the British Colonies and settlements, and in the United States, the title of the first ministerial law-officer of the government, also of his or her Majesty’s attorney in the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall, and county palatine of Durham. Plural (better): Attorney-Generals.
The designation began in England, where this officer was at first merely the king’s attorney (see above 6), called from the reign of Edward IV., ‘the king’s general attorney,’ to distinguish him from those appointed to act on special occasions, or in particular courts. The descriptive designation seems to have grown into a title during the 16th c. The A. G. is now a member of the Ministry (but not of the Cabinet), and usually has a seat in the House of Commons.
1533–4. Act 25 Hen. VIII., xvi. § 2. The kinges generall attorney, and general Solicitour, which for the time is.
1585. in Somers, Tracts (1809), I. 214. Then began John Popham Esq. her Majestys Attorney-general, as followeth.
1614. Selden, Titles Hon., 31. Sr John Dauis Knight, his Maiesties Attorny Generall for Ireland.
1708. Lond. Gaz., No. 4482/3.
a. 1733. North, Life Bar. Guildf. (1742), 18. His admission into the Conversation of Mr. Attorney-General Palmer … proved of great use to him … For Mr. Attorney … was a very great Book Lawyer.
1812. Examiner, 25 May, 334/1. Attorneys-General, Judges, and Hangmen.
1812. L. Hunt, ibid., 24 Aug., 529/1. Attorney-Generals should be restricted.
Hence, Attorney-generalship.
1871. Daily Tel., 6 Nov., 4/5. Might have seen the Attorney-Generalship filled once more by the Member for Richmond.
1876. in N. Amer. Rev., CXXIII. 384. The nomination of Mr. O’Conor as a candidate for the attorney-generalship.
