John Bigham, 1st Viscount Mersey
Encyclopedia
John Charles Bigham, 1st Viscount Mersey (3 August 1840 – 3 September 1929) was a British jurist and politician. After early success as a lawyer, and a less successful spell as a politician, he was appointed a judge, working in commercial law.
After his retirement, Mersey remained active in public affairs, and is probably best remembered for heading the official Board of Trade
inquiries into the sinking of steamships, most notably the RMS Titanic, the RMS Lusitania
, and the RMS Empress of Ireland.
, the second son of John Bigham, a prosperous merchant, and his wife Helen, née East. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, and the University of London
, where he studied law.
Bigham left the university without taking a degree. He then travelled to Berlin and Paris to continue his education. Called to the bar
in 1870 by the Middle Temple
, he practised commercial law in and around his native city. On 17 August 1871 he married Georgina Sarah Rogers, also from Liverpool. The first of their three sons was born in 1872.
. His commercial practice prospered. In 1885, he tried his hand at politics, standing as a Liberal candidate for Parliament
at the Liverpool constituency of Toxteth
, but lost. In 1892, he stood unsuccessfully in another Liverpool seat, the Exchange
constituency. He was finally elected at his third attempt in 1895, standing as a Liberal Unionist. He was never able to make a great political impact, and his interest in politics was less than his interest in his legal work, which continued to flourish. During his last decade as a barrister, he was so in demand that he became one of the richest lawyers in his circle.
In 1895, Bigham was named a judge to the Queen's Bench, continuing his work in business law. He presided over the railway and canal commission of 1904, worked in the bankruptcy courts, and reviewed courts-martial sentences handed down during the Second Boer War
. He joined the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division in 1909, but found the divorce work unfulfilling and retired in 1910. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Mersey of Toxteth in the same year.
, the Lord Chancellor
in the government of Herbert Henry Asquith, to head the inquiry commission into the sinking of the RMS Titanic. There was some criticism of his handling of the inquiry; some felt he was biased towards the Board of Trade and the major shipping concerns, and cared too little about finding out why the ship sank. (In 1998, the historian Daniel Butler described Mersey as "autocratic, impatient and not a little testy", but noted the "surprising objectivity" of the inquiry's findings.) In 1913, Mersey presided over the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
, and added three more maritime inquiries to his résumé with his heading of the inquiries into the sinkings of the RMS Empress of Ireland (held in Canada
in 1914) and the Falaba and RMS Lusitania
in 1915. As regards the last, Mersey is among those suspected by conspiracy theorists of a cover-up. His biographer Hugh Mooney writes that such suspicions are wholly conjectural, although "the conclusion of the inquiry (which blamed Germany for the tragedy without reservation) was without doubt politically convenient." Mersey was raised in the peerage from baron to viscount
in 1916.
in Sussex
, aged 89.
Mersey's third son was Sir Trevor Bigham
, who became Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
. Another son, Colonel Charles Clive Bigham, survived the sinking of the passenger ship SS Persia in 1915.
After his retirement, Mersey remained active in public affairs, and is probably best remembered for heading the official Board of Trade
Board of Trade
The Board of Trade is a committee of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom, originating as a committee of inquiry in the 17th century and evolving gradually into a government department with a diverse range of functions...
inquiries into the sinking of steamships, most notably the RMS Titanic, the RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
, and the RMS Empress of Ireland.
Early years
Bigham was born in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, the second son of John Bigham, a prosperous merchant, and his wife Helen, née East. He was educated at the Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, and the University of London
University of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
, where he studied law.
Bigham left the university without taking a degree. He then travelled to Berlin and Paris to continue his education. Called to the bar
Call to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
in 1870 by the Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
, he practised commercial law in and around his native city. On 17 August 1871 he married Georgina Sarah Rogers, also from Liverpool. The first of their three sons was born in 1872.
Barrister and judge
In 1883, Bigham was named a Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
. His commercial practice prospered. In 1885, he tried his hand at politics, standing as a Liberal candidate for Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
at the Liverpool constituency of Toxteth
Toxteth
Toxteth is an inner city area of Liverpool, England. Located to the south of the city, Toxteth is bordered by Liverpool City Centre, Dingle, Edge Hill, Wavertree and Aigburth.-Description:...
, but lost. In 1892, he stood unsuccessfully in another Liverpool seat, the Exchange
Liverpool Exchange (UK Parliament constituency)
Liverpool Exchange was a borough constituency within the city of Liverpool in England, centred around Liverpool Exchange railway station. It returned one Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, elected by the first past the post system.The...
constituency. He was finally elected at his third attempt in 1895, standing as a Liberal Unionist. He was never able to make a great political impact, and his interest in politics was less than his interest in his legal work, which continued to flourish. During his last decade as a barrister, he was so in demand that he became one of the richest lawyers in his circle.
In 1895, Bigham was named a judge to the Queen's Bench, continuing his work in business law. He presided over the railway and canal commission of 1904, worked in the bankruptcy courts, and reviewed courts-martial sentences handed down during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He joined the Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division in 1909, but found the divorce work unfulfilling and retired in 1910. He was raised to the peerage as Baron Mersey of Toxteth in the same year.
Titanic
In 1912, Mersey received his greatest fame when he was appointed by Lord LoreburnRobert Reid, 1st Earl Loreburn
Robert Threshie Reid, 1st Earl Loreburn GCMG, PC, QC was a British lawyer, judge and Liberal politician. He served as Lord Chancellor between 1905 and 1912.-Background and education:...
, the Lord Chancellor
Lord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
in the government of Herbert Henry Asquith, to head the inquiry commission into the sinking of the RMS Titanic. There was some criticism of his handling of the inquiry; some felt he was biased towards the Board of Trade and the major shipping concerns, and cared too little about finding out why the ship sank. (In 1998, the historian Daniel Butler described Mersey as "autocratic, impatient and not a little testy", but noted the "surprising objectivity" of the inquiry's findings.) In 1913, Mersey presided over the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea
The International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea is an international maritime safety treaty. The SOLAS Convention in its successive forms is generally regarded as the most important of all international treaties concerning the safety of merchant ships.- History :The first version of the...
, and added three more maritime inquiries to his résumé with his heading of the inquiries into the sinkings of the RMS Empress of Ireland (held in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
in 1914) and the Falaba and RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania
RMS Lusitania was a British ocean liner designed by Leonard Peskett and built by John Brown and Company of Clydebank, Scotland. The ship entered passenger service with the Cunard Line on 26 August 1907 and continued on the line's heavily-traveled passenger service between Liverpool, England and New...
in 1915. As regards the last, Mersey is among those suspected by conspiracy theorists of a cover-up. His biographer Hugh Mooney writes that such suspicions are wholly conjectural, although "the conclusion of the inquiry (which blamed Germany for the tragedy without reservation) was without doubt politically convenient." Mersey was raised in the peerage from baron to viscount
Viscount
A viscount or viscountess is a member of the European nobility whose comital title ranks usually, as in the British peerage, above a baron, below an earl or a count .-Etymology:...
in 1916.
Last years
In his later years, Mersey was beset by deafness, but continued to work actively, returning to the bench in his 80s when the divorce courts had a heavy backlog; Mooney writes, "he helped to clear the lists with all his old efficiency". His wife died in 1925, and he died four years larter at LittlehamptonLittlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
in Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, aged 89.
Mersey's third son was Sir Trevor Bigham
Trevor Bigham
Sir Frank Trevor Roger Bigham KBE CB , known as Sir Trevor Bigham, was an English barrister, an Assistant Commissioner of the London Metropolitan Police from 1914 to 1931, and Deputy Commissioner from 1931 to 1935...
, who became Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis
The Deputy Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, commonly referred to simply as the Deputy Commissioner, is the second-in-command of London's Metropolitan Police Service. The rank is senior to Assistant Commissioner, but junior by one rank to Commissioner...
. Another son, Colonel Charles Clive Bigham, survived the sinking of the passenger ship SS Persia in 1915.