Edward Williams (Victorian judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir Edward Eyre Williams (1813 – 30 April 1880) was an English-Australian lawyer and judge.
Williams was born in 1813 in England, to Burton Williams, a colonist from Trinidad
, and his wife Jane; he was the couple's sixth son. In November 1833, after completing his education, Williams was called to the bar of the Inner Temple
where he practised as a barrister
. Williams married Jessie Gibbon, a minister's daughter, on 13 March 1841.
Williams decided to move to Australia, arriving with his wife in the Port Phillip District
on 13 February 1842, where he initially planned to become a squatter
. However, he soon abandoned this idea and joined the Melbourne bar on 30 March 1842, making his first court appearance the following month where he performed well.
In the 1840s, although there were a few other members, the Melbourne bar essentially consisted of Redmond Barry
and William Stawell (both future judicial colleagues of Williams), along with Williams, Robert Pohlman
and Archibald Cunninghame. Barry, Stawell, Williams, Pohlman, James Croke and Edward Brewster, all with either Irish or English educational and legal backgrounds, were something of "an informal Senior Common Room" in Melbourne in the 1840s, "dining and socialising together and generally supportive of their own brand of legal manners."
In May 1844 Williams was appointed to the Bourke District local council. He contributed to efforts to establish the Melbourne Hospital
from 1845, and in 1847 was a member of its first management committee.
In 1848, Williams represented William Kerr, the proprietor of The Argus
, in defence of a libel case brought by the mayor of Melbourne Henry Moor
. Kerr lost the case, and the damages he had to pay pushed him into insolvency, forcing him to sell The Argus. Williams later represented Edward Wilson
(who had bought The Argus from Kerr) and James Johnston against another libel suit brought by Moor. Moor won this case too, but was awarded only token damages of one farthing. In both cases, Moor was represented by William Stawell.
Williams was appointed the commissioner of insolvent estates on 1 April 1851. Later that year he intended to stand in the first election for the Legislative Council of Victoria, but when made Commissioner of the Court of Requests in late July 1851, he withdrew from the election. He was also appointed chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions in January 1852. Williams would become a member of the Legislative Council from 13 April 1852, when he succeeded Redmond Barry as Solicitor-General of Victoria, after Barry was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
. Williams was Solicitor-General for barely three months, however, since he was himself made a judge of the Supreme Court on 21 July 1852, bringing the Court to its full complement of three judges.
As a judge, Williams was recognised for his diligent and efficient work at the circuit sittings of the Supreme Court in various parts of the colony. Before the penetration of railways into the interior, many of the journeys to the circuit sittings were made on horseback. Only limited amounts of time were available for each of the circuit destinations, and Williams would often hold sittings until the early hours of the morning in order to maintain the busy schedule of cases.
Williams took a two-year leave of absence in England, beginning in April 1859. In 1872, the youngest of Williams' two daughters was killed in a mountaineering
accident in Switzerland
, when she fell from a cliff. Crushed by this loss, and suffering from poor health, Williams was advised by his doctors to leave the bench, and he resigned from the Court in April 1874. He left Australia with his family on 28 May of that year, returning to England.
Williams retired to the city of Bath; knighted on 28 May 1878, he died on 30 April 1880.
Williams was born in 1813 in England, to Burton Williams, a colonist from Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
, and his wife Jane; he was the couple's sixth son. In November 1833, after completing his education, Williams was called to the bar of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
where he practised as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
. Williams married Jessie Gibbon, a minister's daughter, on 13 March 1841.
Williams decided to move to Australia, arriving with his wife in the Port Phillip District
Port Phillip District
The Port Phillip District was an historical administrative division of the Colony of New South Wales, existing from September 1836 until 1 July 1851, when it was separated from New South Wales and became the Colony of Victoria....
on 13 February 1842, where he initially planned to become a squatter
Squatting (pastoral)
In Australian history, a squatter was one who occupied a large tract of Crown land in order to graze livestock. Initially often having no legal rights to the land, they gained its usage by being the first Europeans in the area....
. However, he soon abandoned this idea and joined the Melbourne bar on 30 March 1842, making his first court appearance the following month where he performed well.
In the 1840s, although there were a few other members, the Melbourne bar essentially consisted of Redmond Barry
Redmond Barry
Sir Redmond Barry KCMG was an Irish colonial judge in Victoria, Australia.-Early life:Barry was the son of Major-General Henry Green Barry, of Ballyclough, County Cork and his wife Phoebe Drought, daughter of John Armstrong Drought and Letita Head...
and William Stawell (both future judicial colleagues of Williams), along with Williams, Robert Pohlman
Robert Pohlman
Robert Williams Pohlman was an English-born Australian lawyer and judge.Pohlman was born in London in 1811...
and Archibald Cunninghame. Barry, Stawell, Williams, Pohlman, James Croke and Edward Brewster, all with either Irish or English educational and legal backgrounds, were something of "an informal Senior Common Room" in Melbourne in the 1840s, "dining and socialising together and generally supportive of their own brand of legal manners."
In May 1844 Williams was appointed to the Bourke District local council. He contributed to efforts to establish the Melbourne Hospital
Royal Melbourne Hospital
The Royal Melbourne Hospital , located in Parkville, Victoria an inner suburb of Melbourne is one of Australia’s leading public hospitals. It is a major teaching hospital for tertiary health care with a reputation in clinical research...
from 1845, and in 1847 was a member of its first management committee.
In 1848, Williams represented William Kerr, the proprietor of The Argus
The Argus (Australia)
The Argus was a morning daily newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. Widely known as a conservative newspaper for most of its history, it adopted a left leaning approach from 1949...
, in defence of a libel case brought by the mayor of Melbourne Henry Moor
Henry Moor
Henry Moor was a British lawyer and politician who served as the second Mayor of Melbourne, Australia and as member of parliament for Brighton in England.-Early life:...
. Kerr lost the case, and the damages he had to pay pushed him into insolvency, forcing him to sell The Argus. Williams later represented Edward Wilson
Edward Wilson (journalist)
Edward Wilson was an English Australian journalist and philanthropist.Wilson was born at Hampstead, London. He was educated at a private school and then entered a business house at Manchester. He went to London and in 1842 emigrated to Australia...
(who had bought The Argus from Kerr) and James Johnston against another libel suit brought by Moor. Moor won this case too, but was awarded only token damages of one farthing. In both cases, Moor was represented by William Stawell.
Williams was appointed the commissioner of insolvent estates on 1 April 1851. Later that year he intended to stand in the first election for the Legislative Council of Victoria, but when made Commissioner of the Court of Requests in late July 1851, he withdrew from the election. He was also appointed chairman of the Court of Quarter Sessions in January 1852. Williams would become a member of the Legislative Council from 13 April 1852, when he succeeded Redmond Barry as Solicitor-General of Victoria, after Barry was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
. Williams was Solicitor-General for barely three months, however, since he was himself made a judge of the Supreme Court on 21 July 1852, bringing the Court to its full complement of three judges.
As a judge, Williams was recognised for his diligent and efficient work at the circuit sittings of the Supreme Court in various parts of the colony. Before the penetration of railways into the interior, many of the journeys to the circuit sittings were made on horseback. Only limited amounts of time were available for each of the circuit destinations, and Williams would often hold sittings until the early hours of the morning in order to maintain the busy schedule of cases.
Williams took a two-year leave of absence in England, beginning in April 1859. In 1872, the youngest of Williams' two daughters was killed in a mountaineering
Mountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
accident in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, when she fell from a cliff. Crushed by this loss, and suffering from poor health, Williams was advised by his doctors to leave the bench, and he resigned from the Court in April 1874. He left Australia with his family on 28 May of that year, returning to England.
Williams retired to the city of Bath; knighted on 28 May 1878, he died on 30 April 1880.