Lord Mansfield, born William Murray in 1705, was a prominent British judge and legal reformer. He served as the Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1756 to 1788, where he played a crucial role in shaping English law. His decisions often emphasized the importance of fairness and justice, influencing the development of commercial law and the legal status of slavery in Britain. Mansfield is best known for his ruling in the case of Somersett v. Stewart in 1772, which questioned the legality of slavery in England. His judgment stated that slavery was unsupported by common law, leading to significant changes in the legal landscape regarding human rights and personal liberty.