Henry Spencer Berkeley

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Sir Henry Berkeley KC, Chief Justice of Fiji and Attorney General of Hong Kong

Sir Henry Spencer Hardtman Berkeley (3 September 1851[1] – 30 September 1918[2][3]), was a barrister, Chief Justice of Fiji and Attorney-General of Hong Kong.

Early life

Berkeley was the third son of Thomas Berkeley Hardtman Berkeley, of St. Kitts.

He was educated for the legal profession and called to the bar at the Inner Temple in June 1873.

Berkeley married Katherine Sassin, daughter of S.S. Sassin of Antigua in the West Indies.

Leeward Islands

Berkeley was admitted to the bar of the Leeward Islands in July 1874. He filled various legal and official posts in the Leeward Islands including solicitor-general and attorney general. In 1883, he acted as the Colonial Secretary.

Fiji

In 1885, he was appointed Attorney-General of Fiji in succession to Fielding Clarke who was appointed Chief Justice. As Attorney-General he acted as Chief Justice when Clarke was on leave.

In 1889, he was appointed Chief Justice of Fiji and Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific succeeding Fielding Clarke.[1] He acted for a brief time as Governor of Fiji.

Berkeley was knighted in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 20 May 1896.[4]

Hong Kong

In what was seen as a slightly strange move from the bench back to the bar, in 1902, Berkeley accepted the position of Attorney-General for Hong Kong.[5] In 1904, he was considered for the position of Chief Justice of Hong Kong on the retirement of W. Meigh Goodman. Francis Piggott was appointed instead.[6] Berkeley acted as Chief Justice of Hong Kong on two occasions.[7]

He was appointed a King's Counsel in Hong Kong in 1906.[8] He resigned as Attorney General in 1906 to enter full-time private practice. William Rees-Davies took over the role in 1907. Berkeley continued to practice in Hong Kong until 1912.[9] After retirement as attorney general, he continued to serve on the Hong Kong Legislative Council which he had been a member of as Attorney General.[10] He also acted as Attorney General in 1909.[11]

Berkeley also served as Chairman of the Hong Kong Volunteer Reserve Association, which consisted of men over 35 years of age. The VRA's principal aim was the encouragement of rifle shooting.[12]

Later life

After returning to England, he was a member of the West Sussex County Council from 1913.[2]

Berkeley died on 30 September 1918 in England.[13]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Mennell, Philip (1892). "Wikisource link to Berkeley, Hon. Henry Spencer Hardtman". The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co. Wikisource
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Henry Spencer Hardtman Berkeley". Holmes à Court Family History. Retrieved 16 October 2012. 
  3. ↑ "Who was Capt.? J.H.H.BERKELEY of 83rd Regiment". Retrieved 15 October 2012. 
  4. ↑ "Henry Spencer Berkeley"&searchLimits=#pstart1364858 "Special Cables". The Sydney Morning Herald. Trove, National Library of Australia. 21 May 1896. Retrieved 16 October 2012. 
  5. ↑ Nottingham Evening Post, 4 June 1902
  6. ↑ The private life of old Hong Kong: western women in the British Colony, 1841-1941, p202
  7. ↑ Twentieth Impressions of Hong Kong and Shanghai, profile of Berkeley
  8. ↑ London Gazette, July 10, 1906, p4720
  9. ↑ The Straits Times of 20 July 1911, Page 6 reported him returning home from Hong Kong for a short holiday
  10. ↑ Legislative Council Minutes, 24 July 1908
  11. ↑ Legislative Council Minutes, 20 May 1909
  12. ↑ Twentieth Impressions of Hong Kong and Shanghai, p277
  13. ↑ London Gazette, 12 November 1918, p13350
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