Wetherell was born in
Oxford, the third son of Reverend
Nathan Wetherell, of
Durham, Master of the
University College and
Vice-Chancellor of the
University of Oxford. His mother was Richarda Croke (1743?-1812), sister of Sir Alexander Croke, of
Studley Priory,
Oxfordshire. He was educated at
St Paul's School, London and matriculated at University College in 1786. He was a
demy at
Magdalen College, Oxford from 1788 to 1791, graduating B.A. in 1790 and M.A. in 1793. Wetherell was a
Member of Parliament (MP) for a considerable period, representing
Rye from 1812 to 1813,
Shaftesbury from 1813 to 1818, and
Oxford from 1820 to 1826. He was elected MP for
Hastings in 1826 but had to stand down when appointed
Attorney-General. He represented
Plympton Erle from December 1826 to 1830 and
Boroughbridge from 1830 to 1832. He was
Solicitor-General between 1824 and 1826 and Attorney General between 20 September 1826 and 27 April 1827, and again between 19 February 1828 and 29 June 1829. In May 1829, Wetherell made a violent speech in opposition to
Catholic Emancipation, and was dismissed by the
Duke of Wellington. He was
Recorder of
Bristol during the
riots of 1831. From 1835 up to his death in 1846, he was
Chancellor of Durham. ==Family==