Sir William Blackstone saved an Oxford college and influenced the US Declaration of Independence, writes CHRIS KOENIG

A curse of Oxford University's corrupt old days in the 18th century, when it seems much of the historic institution was devoted to high living and low thinking, was that relatives of founders of various colleges had the automatic right to fellowships.

By the 18th century there were so many such claimants at All Souls College, all saying they were somehow related to Archbishop Chichele - who had founded the place some 300 years earlier in 1438 - that they were threatening to bring the whole college into disrepute and ridicule.

That was where Britain's foremost jurist, Sir William Blackstone (1723-1780), stepped in to save the day. He became bursar of All Souls and wrote his Essay on Collateral Consanguinity to thwart efforts from kith and kin trying to climb aboard the gravy train.

Blackstone's legal career got under way with surprising lack of success when he first practised as a barrister in London. Then he returned to Oxfordshire to become Recorder of Wallingford in 1749. He began lecturing at Oxford University in 1753 and became principal of New Inn Hall (forerunner of the present St Peter's College) in 1761.

But it was his four-volume Commentaries on the Laws of England, based on his Oxford lectures, which brought him immortal fame.

Written as a beautiful piece of literature, the book had an extraordinary reception among educated English laymen. It was accepted as an authoritive revelation of the law and of the unwritten constitution.

Sir William, whose portrait by Gainsborough hangs in the Middle Temple, lived in Wallingford, just a few steps distant from the redundant church of St Peter, where he is buried.

His fame and influence were even greater in the US, after the American victory in the War of Independence, than it was in Britain. His Commentaries became the chief source of knowledge of English Law and even played their part in the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.

In 1976, many American lawyers visiting Britain on the 200th anniversary of the Declaration stopped off on the journey from London to Oxford to visit the grave in Wallingford. Even now a steady trickle of American lawyers visits it.

The grave is easy enough to find. You approach Wallingford from the Crowmarsh end, cross the bridge and turn left into Thames Street to the lovely Georgian St Peter's.

The church was rebuilt in the 18th century, the original one having been ruined by Cromwell's troops in 1642 or 1643.

Amazingly, the Diocesan Pastoral Committee recommended its demolition in 1967. Such was the degree of official vandalism in the 1960s. Now we can only be gratedul that the Georgian Gothic building with its distinctive spire is in the hands of the Churches Conservation Trust and is used for musical recitals throughout the year.

It seems that the church was rebuilt in the first place thanks to the influence of Blackstone, though he did not pay for the work as is sometimes suggested.

The distinctive steeple, designed by Sir Robert Taylor, with its octagonal turret and spire, is a Gothic version of Wren's St Bride's in Fleet Street. It cost £2,179 and Blackstone contributed £80.

Blackstone also contributed to bringing the clock to St Peter's from Horse Guards Tower in Whitehall. One face manages to show 61 minutes thanks to a mistake by its maker.