Thomas Falconer
Encyclopedia
Thomas Falconer was an English jurist
and explorer
.
Born in Bath, England on 25 June 1805, Falconer was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
in 1823, and to the bar in 1830. He practised for a number of years as an equity draftsman and conveyancer, and later turned to codifying the laws and statutes of England.
In 1840, Falconer immigrated to the Republic of Texas
, sailing from England on the Britannia on 20 October, and arriving in May 1841. On his arrival he obtained permission to accompany the Texan Santa Fe expedition as an observer. The expedition left Austin
on 18 June. On the trail towards New Mexico
, Falconer had his horse stolen by Indian
s. On 31 August, the expedition leader, Hugh McLeod
, decided to split the party, with some to proceed to San Miguel
and return with provision, while the rest remained in camp. As Falconer had no horse, he remained in camp. Falconer's party was attacked by Indians a number of times, and nearly starved to death before the other party returned on 9 October as prisoners of the Mexicans. Falconer's party was also taken prisoner, and marched to Mexico City
, arriving on 3 February 1842. He was then immediately released at the demand of the British minister.
Later that year, Falconer published his account of the expedition as Expedition to Santa Fé: An Account of Its Journey from Texas through Mexico, with Particulars of Its Capture. In 1844 he also published Notes of a Journey through Texas and New Mexico, in the years 1841 and 1842 in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. After returning to England, he published another major work on his travels, The Oregon Question; or a Statement of the British Claims to the Oregon Territory in Opposition to the Pretension of the Government of the United States of America.
In 1848, Falconer was offered, but declined, an appointment as private secretary to Henry Barkley, governor of British Guiana
. Late in 1850 he was appointed an arbitrator to decide the boundary between New Brunswick
and Canada. In March 1851, he was nominated to the position of Colonial Secretary of Western Australia
, but refused appointment. Despite declining the appointment, and therefore never arriving in Western Australia, he is officially considered to have held the position until the next appointment to the position in January 1852.
On 22 December 1851, Falconer accepted appointment as judge of Glamorgan
shire, Brecknockshire
and Rhayader
. He sat on the bench for thirty years, retiring to the Royal Crescent
in Bath in December 1881. He died at Bath on 28 August 1882, the result of a fall he had suffered the previous June while visiting the Bath Rose Show.
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and explorer
Exploration
Exploration is the act of searching or traveling around a terrain for the purpose of discovery of resources or information. Exploration occurs in all non-sessile animal species, including humans...
.
Born in Bath, England on 25 June 1805, Falconer was admitted to Lincoln's Inn
Lincoln's Inn
The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn is one of four Inns of Court in London to which barristers of England and Wales belong and where they are called to the Bar. The other three are Middle Temple, Inner Temple and Gray's Inn. Although Lincoln's Inn is able to trace its official records beyond...
in 1823, and to the bar in 1830. He practised for a number of years as an equity draftsman and conveyancer, and later turned to codifying the laws and statutes of England.
In 1840, Falconer immigrated to the Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
, sailing from England on the Britannia on 20 October, and arriving in May 1841. On his arrival he obtained permission to accompany the Texan Santa Fe expedition as an observer. The expedition left Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
on 18 June. On the trail towards New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, Falconer had his horse stolen by Indian
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
s. On 31 August, the expedition leader, Hugh McLeod
Hugh McLeod
Hugh McLeod was a Scottish-born lawyer and political figure in Nova Scotia, Canada. He represented Cape Breton in the Canadian House of Commons from 1878 to 1879 as a Liberal-Conservative member....
, decided to split the party, with some to proceed to San Miguel
San Miguel
San Miguel, Spanish for Saint Michael, describes numerous locations.-Argentina:*San Miguel Partido*San Miguel, Buenos Aires*San Miguel Arcángel , a Volga German colony in Adolfo Alsina Partido, Buenos Aires Province...
and return with provision, while the rest remained in camp. As Falconer had no horse, he remained in camp. Falconer's party was attacked by Indians a number of times, and nearly starved to death before the other party returned on 9 October as prisoners of the Mexicans. Falconer's party was also taken prisoner, and marched to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, arriving on 3 February 1842. He was then immediately released at the demand of the British minister.
Later that year, Falconer published his account of the expedition as Expedition to Santa Fé: An Account of Its Journey from Texas through Mexico, with Particulars of Its Capture. In 1844 he also published Notes of a Journey through Texas and New Mexico, in the years 1841 and 1842 in the Journal of the Royal Geographical Society of London. After returning to England, he published another major work on his travels, The Oregon Question; or a Statement of the British Claims to the Oregon Territory in Opposition to the Pretension of the Government of the United States of America.
In 1848, Falconer was offered, but declined, an appointment as private secretary to Henry Barkley, governor of British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
. Late in 1850 he was appointed an arbitrator to decide the boundary between New Brunswick
New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada's three Maritime provinces and is the only province in the federation that is constitutionally bilingual . The provincial capital is Fredericton and Saint John is the most populous city. Greater Moncton is the largest Census Metropolitan Area...
and Canada. In March 1851, he was nominated to the position of Colonial Secretary of Western Australia
Colonial Secretary of Western Australia
The Colonial Secretary of Western Australia was one of the most important and powerful public offices in Western Australia, in the time when Western Australia was a British colony. The Colonial Secretary was the representative of the British Colonial Office in Western Australia, and was usually...
, but refused appointment. Despite declining the appointment, and therefore never arriving in Western Australia, he is officially considered to have held the position until the next appointment to the position in January 1852.
On 22 December 1851, Falconer accepted appointment as judge of Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
shire, Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire
Brecknockshire , also known as the County of Brecknock, Breconshire, or the County of Brecon is one of thirteen historic counties of Wales, and a former administrative county.-Geography:...
and Rhayader
Rhayader
Rhayader is a market town and community in Powys, Mid Wales. It has a population of 2,075, and is the first town on the banks of the River Wye, from its source on the Plynlimon range of the Cambrian Mountains....
. He sat on the bench for thirty years, retiring to the Royal Crescent
Royal Crescent
The Royal Crescent is a residential road of 30 houses laid out in a crescent in the city of Bath, England. Designed by the architect John Wood the Younger and built between 1767 and 1774, it is among the greatest examples of Georgian architecture to be found in the United Kingdom and is a grade I...
in Bath in December 1881. He died at Bath on 28 August 1882, the result of a fall he had suffered the previous June while visiting the Bath Rose Show.