ohn Austin (3 March 1790, Creeting Mill, Suffolk – 1 December 1859, Weybridge, Surrey) was a noted British jurist and published extensively concerning the philosophy of law and jurisprudence.[1]
Austin served with the British Army in Sicily and Malta, but sold his officer's commission to study law. He became a member of the Bar during 1818. He discontinued his law practice soon after, devoted himself to the study of law as a science, and became Professor of Jurisprudence in the University of London (now University College London) 1826-33. Thereafter he served on various Royal Commissions.
His publications had a profound influence on English jurisprudence. They include The Province of Jurisprudence Determined (1832), and Lectures on Jurisprudence.[2]
On 24 August 1819, Austin married Sarah Taylor, who also became an author, at St George Colegate, Norwich.[3]
He also introduced command theory and sovereignty theory.[citation needed]