Reviewed case brief
Sutton's Hospital Case
(1612) 10 Co Rep 1a; 77 ER 960
This is the earliest authoritative pronouncement on the nature of corporate personality in English law. Coke CJ described a corporation as an invisible, immortal, and artificial body that exists only in the contemplation of law and is created by the sovereign's charter.
- Court
- Court of King's Bench
- Year
- 1612
- Subjects
- Company Law
- Reviewed
- 2026-06-30
Rule established
A corporation is an invisible, immortal, and artificial person created by charter, possessing legal personality distinct from its members
Facts
Issues
Held
Ratio decidendi
How to use it in an exam
Editorial source
Coke's Reports
Educational summary only. Read the reported judgment or an authorised law report before relying on the case professionally.