Richard Cayley
Encyclopedia
Sir Richard Cayley was a British lawyer who served as Chief Justice
of Ceylon
.
Richard Cayley was born on 22 April 1833, the son of Edward Cayley and Frances Twopenny. He was educated at Stamford School
between 1842 and 1851 before going up to St John's College, Cambridge
in 1851.
He married Sophia, daughter of David Wilson, a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon
, on 17 April 1866. After serving for a period as Queen's Advocate, he succeeded Sir Anthony Oliphant
as Chief Justice.
As such he heard before the Supreme Court the case of Jayawardena v. Queen's Advocate. Up to the time of Jayawardena's case, the right to sue the Crown
had the character of a "taken for granted law", but here the serving Queen's Advocate argued that suing the Crown was an "attempt to impugn the royal prerogative". In giving his ruling on this case, Chief Justice Cayley said, "To hold at this date, for the first time, that a practice, which has so long been sanctioned by the Courts and acquiesced in by the Government, is bad in law,...would [lead to] widespread confusion and ...in many cases to injustice."
He was succeeded as Chief Justice by Sir Richard Morgan
.
On his return to England, he subsequently held the office of Justice of the Peace
for the counties of Northamptonshire and Rutland. He was a member of the original committee responsible for the foundation, in 1889, of the Old Stamfordian Club for old boys
of his alma mater
. The club remains a thriving concern to this day.
He died on 5 April 1908 aged 74.
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of Ceylon
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
.
Richard Cayley was born on 22 April 1833, the son of Edward Cayley and Frances Twopenny. He was educated at Stamford School
Stamford School
Stamford School is an English independent school situated in the market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, England. It has been a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference since 1920.-History:...
between 1842 and 1851 before going up to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1851.
He married Sophia, daughter of David Wilson, a member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon
Legislative Council of Ceylon
The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of Ceylon established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first form of representative government in the island...
, on 17 April 1866. After serving for a period as Queen's Advocate, he succeeded Sir Anthony Oliphant
Anthony Oliphant
Hon. Sir Anthony Oliphant was a British lawyer who was appointed Chief Justice of Ceylon by Her Majesty's Government. Prior to his appointment, Sir Anthony was Attorney General in the Cape Colony....
as Chief Justice.
As such he heard before the Supreme Court the case of Jayawardena v. Queen's Advocate. Up to the time of Jayawardena's case, the right to sue the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
had the character of a "taken for granted law", but here the serving Queen's Advocate argued that suing the Crown was an "attempt to impugn the royal prerogative". In giving his ruling on this case, Chief Justice Cayley said, "To hold at this date, for the first time, that a practice, which has so long been sanctioned by the Courts and acquiesced in by the Government, is bad in law,...would [lead to] widespread confusion and ...in many cases to injustice."
He was succeeded as Chief Justice by Sir Richard Morgan
Richard Morgan
Richard K. Morgan is a British science fiction author.Morgan studied history at Queens' College, Cambridge. After graduating he started teaching English in order to travel the world...
.
On his return to England, he subsequently held the office of Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for the counties of Northamptonshire and Rutland. He was a member of the original committee responsible for the foundation, in 1889, of the Old Stamfordian Club for old boys
Old Boys
The terms Old Boys and Old Girls are the usual expressions in use in the United Kingdom for former pupils or alumni of primary and secondary schools. While these are traditionally associated with independent schools, they are also used for some schools in the state sector...
of his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
. The club remains a thriving concern to this day.
He died on 5 April 1908 aged 74.