Crampton, Philip Cecil (1782–1862), solicitor general, MP, and judge, was fourth son of the Rev. Cecil Crampton, rector of Headfort, and his wife Nicola Mary, daughter of the Rev. Jeremy Marsh. He entered TCD in 1797, becoming a scholar (1800) and graduating BA (1802) with a gold medal. He became a fellow of the college in 1807 and received an MA the same year. At this time he enjoyed the reflected glory of his popular cousin, Surgeon-general Philip Crampton (qv). He entered Lincoln's Inn in 1808, and graduated BL in 1809, and doctor of laws the following year. He was also called to the Irish bar (1810). He became professor of oratory in TCD (1813) and regius professor of English and feudal law (1816), resigning his fellowship in 1816.
Pursuing a legal career, he became a king's counsel in 1825 and succeeded John Doherty (qv) as solicitor general on 23 December 1830. Crampton also developed political aspirations and sat for an English pocket borough (Milbourn Port, Saltash) in 1831, voting with the liberal government. He was less successful in Ireland and twice unsuccessfully contested the Dublin University constituency (1831, 1832) as a liberal candidate; he also failed to win a seat at Dungarvan, Co. Waterford (1834). He was not a success in parliament and in 1831 caused great amusement with his peculiar interpretation of the constitution; his colleagues quickly distanced themselves. On the death of Richard Jebb (qv) he succeeded to his place on the king's bench in 1834. He was an ardent supporter of catholic emancipation and reform, and was respected by many liberals for his views. Daniel O'Connell (qv), however, was highly contemptuous of him.
A zealous advocate of total abstinence, he banned alcohol from his residences – he is even reported to have poured the contents of his wine cellar at St Valerie, near Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, into the River Dargle. Crampton delivered many speeches against drinking, which were published as a series of Hibernian temperance pamphlets (1829–32). He famously pronounced from the bench that two-thirds of all crimes were drink-related. Crampton also opposed the jailing of young offenders, believing that it would destroy their morals.
One of the judges in the state trials of 1844, he was made a privy councillor in 1858. He retired from the bench in 1859, highly respected for his impartiality, learning, and tact. His Dublin residences were at Merrion Square and Kildare Place. He died 29 December 1862 at St Valerie, Co. Wicklow, and was buried at Mount Jerome cemetery in Dublin.
He married first Sidney Mary Browne (d. 1839); secondly, Margaret Duffy.