Frances Claudia Wright
Encyclopedia
Frances Claudia Wright, OBE (5 March 1919 – 2 April 2010) was a prominent Sierra Leonean lawyer during the 20th century. Known as "West Africa's Portia
", in 1943 Wright was the first Sierra Leonean woman to pass the bar in Great Britain and to practice law in her country.
of Sierra Leone and as mayor of Freetown. Like his father, Claude studied law. He passed the bar at age 21, at the top of his class. He went to Sierra Leone from England in search of his father, finding that he had died and left Claude's half siblings in debt. Deciding to settle in the Creole
society of Freetown, Wright set up a practice and revived his father's Gloucester Street premises.
Frances's mother was Eva Smith, who was the outside daughter of Francis Smith, the second Sierra Leonean to qualify as a lawyer. Francis Smith was the brother of Claudius Wright's mother-in-law and was the half-brother of Adelaide Casely-Hayford
. Smith had served as puisine judge on the Gold Coast after attending QEGS
in Wakefield, England.
To satisfy her father's aspirations for a child to succeed him as lawyer, Frances Wright studied at Dame Alice Harpur School
in England and passed the bar at Gray's Inn
in 1943 during World War II
. After she sailed for Sierra Leone, her ship SS California
was sunk off North Africa. She lost all of her possessions and had to be rescued by HMCS Iroquois
.
with the expectation that she would be arrested. She served as the President of the Bar Association.
Wright never married. In 1991 she left the country at the outbreak of the Sierra Leone Civil War
and settled in South Kensington
in England. Her father's practice in Freetown was destroyed in the war.
Frances Wright died in England on 2 April 2010.
Portia
-Biology:*Portia , a genus of jumping spiders*Anaea troglodyta, a brush-footed butterfly commonly known as the Florida Leafwing, Florida Goatweed, or Portia*Portia tree, a plant native to Polynesia*Ctt...
", in 1943 Wright was the first Sierra Leonean woman to pass the bar in Great Britain and to practice law in her country.
Life
Frances Claudia Wright was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone to Claude and Eva Wright. Her father Claude and his brother Jenner were born in England to Sophie Slocombe, an English woman, and the Sierra Leonean man Claudius Ernest Wright, then a student. He later became a lawyer who served on the Legislative CouncilLegislative Council
A Legislative Council is the name given to the legislatures, or one of the chambers of the legislature of many nations and colonies.A Member of the Legislative Council is commonly referred to as an MLC.- Unicameral legislatures :...
of Sierra Leone and as mayor of Freetown. Like his father, Claude studied law. He passed the bar at age 21, at the top of his class. He went to Sierra Leone from England in search of his father, finding that he had died and left Claude's half siblings in debt. Deciding to settle in the Creole
Creole
- Languages :A Creole language is a stable, full-fledged language that originated from a pidgin or combination of other languages.Creole languages subgroups may include:* Arabic-based creole languages* Dutch-based creole languages...
society of Freetown, Wright set up a practice and revived his father's Gloucester Street premises.
Frances's mother was Eva Smith, who was the outside daughter of Francis Smith, the second Sierra Leonean to qualify as a lawyer. Francis Smith was the brother of Claudius Wright's mother-in-law and was the half-brother of Adelaide Casely-Hayford
Adelaide Casely-Hayford
Adelaide Casely-Hayford, née Smith , was a Sierra Leonean Creole advocate, an activist for cultural nationalism, educator, short story writer, and feminist. She established a school for girls in 1923 to instill cultural and racial pride during the colonial years under British rule...
. Smith had served as puisine judge on the Gold Coast after attending QEGS
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, Wakefield
Queen Elizabeth Grammar School is an independent school in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, England. QEGS is distinct from most other schools in that it was founded by Royal Charter of Queen Elizabeth I in 1591 at the request of leading citizens in Wakefield 75 in total and some of whom formed the...
in Wakefield, England.
To satisfy her father's aspirations for a child to succeed him as lawyer, Frances Wright studied at Dame Alice Harpur School
Dame Alice Harpur School
Dame Alice Harpur School is an independent girls school in Bedford, United Kingdom, for girls aged 11-18. In September 2010 the junior department of the school merged with the junior department of Bedford High School...
in England and passed the bar at Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, 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...
in 1943 during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After she sailed for Sierra Leone, her ship SS California
SS California (1923)
SS California was a British steam-powered passenger ship of 16,792 tons built in 1923 for the Henderson Brothers Ltd, Glasgow.-Construction:...
was sunk off North Africa. She lost all of her possessions and had to be rescued by HMCS Iroquois
HMCS Iroquois (G89)
-External links:** at Haze Gray and Underway*...
.
Career
Wright made her way to Sierra Leone and joined her father's practice. She proved a force in the judiciary of Sierra Leone, once confronting Andrew Juxon-SmithAndrew Juxon-Smith
Brigadier Andrew Terence Juxon-Smith was a politician and military official in Sierra Leone. He was briefly Chairman of the National Reformation Council and acting Governor-General, equivalent to head of the Sierra Leonean state...
with the expectation that she would be arrested. She served as the President of the Bar Association.
Wright never married. In 1991 she left the country at the outbreak of the Sierra Leone Civil War
Sierra Leone Civil War
The Sierra Leone Civil War began on 23 March 1991 when the Revolutionary United Front , with support from the special forces of Charles Taylor’s National Patriotic Front of Liberia , intervened in Sierra Leone in an attempt to overthrow the Joseph Momoh government...
and settled in South Kensington
South Kensington
South Kensington is a district in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea in London. It is a built-up area located 2.4 miles west south-west of Charing Cross....
in England. Her father's practice in Freetown was destroyed in the war.
Frances Wright died in England on 2 April 2010.