Robert Yewdall Jennings
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Yewdall Jennings (19 October 1913 – 4 August 2004) was Whewell Professor of International Law at Cambridge University from 1955 to 1982 and a Judge of the International Court of Justice
from 1982. He also served as the President of the ICJ between 1991 and 1994 and resigned from the Court
on July 10, 1995.
He was born in Yorkshire
, where his father worked at a small manufacturing firm and his mother was a mill weaver.
Educated at the local village school, and later at Belle Vue Grammar School in Bradford, he went on to study history at Downing College, Cambridge. After he gained an upper first class degree, the award of a Squire Law scholarship and some assistance from his local authority provided the financial support that enabled him to proceed to study Law. Again, Jennings excelled, gaining first class honours in both parts of the Cambridge Law Tripos and in the postgraduate LLB degree, and being awarded the Whewell and Cassell scholarships. He later got his LL.B from the same institution and then won a scholarship
to Harvard.
After Harvard, Jennings worked at an assistant lectureship at the London School of Economics
. From 1939 on, he was a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge
, and was awarded the Hudson Medal of the American Society of International Law
. The University of Leicester
named a chair after him; Malcolm Shaw
is the current Sir Robert Jennings Professor of International Law. In 1955 he succeeded Sir Hersch Lauterpacht
as Whewell Professor of International Law, the post which he held until 1982.
He served in the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War.
He was knighted
in 1982. He was a president of the Institut de droit international
, received honorary doctorates from the universities of Hull, Leicester and the Saarland, as well as Oxford and Cambridge.
He was an editor of the British Yearbook of International Law; co-authored (with Sir Arthur Watts) 9th edition of Oppenheim's International Law. His other important publications include The Acquisition of Territory in International Law.
He married Christine Bennett, had one son and two daughters and 9 grandchildren.
International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice is the primary judicial organ of the United Nations. It is based in the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands...
from 1982. He also served as the President of the ICJ between 1991 and 1994 and resigned from the Court
United Nations Security Council Resolution 980
United Nations Security Council Resolution 980, adopted without a vote on 22 March 1995, after noting the resignation of International Court of Justice judge Sir Robert Yewdall Jennings which would take effect on 10 July 1995, the Council decided that elections to the vacancy on the ICJ would take...
on July 10, 1995.
He was born in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, where his father worked at a small manufacturing firm and his mother was a mill weaver.
Educated at the local village school, and later at Belle Vue Grammar School in Bradford, he went on to study history at Downing College, Cambridge. After he gained an upper first class degree, the award of a Squire Law scholarship and some assistance from his local authority provided the financial support that enabled him to proceed to study Law. Again, Jennings excelled, gaining first class honours in both parts of the Cambridge Law Tripos and in the postgraduate LLB degree, and being awarded the Whewell and Cassell scholarships. He later got his LL.B from the same institution and then won a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to Harvard.
After Harvard, Jennings worked at an assistant lectureship at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
. From 1939 on, he was a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College, Cambridge
Jesus College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The College was founded in 1496 on the site of a Benedictine nunnery by John Alcock, then Bishop of Ely...
, and was awarded the Hudson Medal of the American Society of International Law
American Society of International Law
The American Society of International Law is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, educational membership organization, based in Washington, D.C.. It was founded in 1906, and was chartered by the United States Congress in 1950...
. The University of Leicester
University of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
named a chair after him; Malcolm Shaw
Malcolm Shaw
Malcolm Nathan Shaw QC is a British legal academic, author, editor and lawyer.-Early life:Shaw studied at the University of Liverpool , the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Keele University .-Career:...
is the current Sir Robert Jennings Professor of International Law. In 1955 he succeeded Sir Hersch Lauterpacht
Hersch Lauterpacht
Sir Hersch Lauterpacht was a member of the United Nations' International Law Commission from 1952 to 1954 and a Judge of the International Court of Justice from 1955 to 1960. In the words of former ICJ President Stephen M...
as Whewell Professor of International Law, the post which he held until 1982.
He served in the Intelligence Corps during the Second World War.
He was knighted
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
in 1982. He was a president of the Institut de droit international
Institut de droit international
The Institut de droit international is an organization devoted to the study and development of international law, whose membership comprises the world's leading public international lawyers...
, received honorary doctorates from the universities of Hull, Leicester and the Saarland, as well as Oxford and Cambridge.
He was an editor of the British Yearbook of International Law; co-authored (with Sir Arthur Watts) 9th edition of Oppenheim's International Law. His other important publications include The Acquisition of Territory in International Law.
He married Christine Bennett, had one son and two daughters and 9 grandchildren.
See also
- Judges of the International Court of JusticeJudges of the International Court of JusticeThis is a list of all the permanent judges of the International Court of Justice, the main judicial organ of the United Nations. It does not include judges who have been appointed as judge ad hoc by a party to a proceeding before the Court pursuant to Article 31 of the Statute of the International...
- Whewell Professorship of International LawWhewell Professorship of International LawThe Whewell Professorship of International Law is a professorship in the University of Cambridge.The Professorship was established in 1868 by the will of the 19th-century scientist and moral philosopher, William Whewell, with a view to devising "such measures as may tend to diminish the causes of...