William Anglin Scarlett
Encyclopedia
Sir William Anglin Scarlett (1777-1831) was Chief Justice of Jamaica.
Scarlett was the son of Robert Scarlett who owned property in Jamaica
. His elder brother, James
, was to become Attorney General. He was educated in Edinburgh
and at Trinity College, Cambridge
, where he graduated B.A. in 1802. In 1809, Scarlett married Mary Williams of Luana estate in St. Elizabeth.
Scarlett became Chief Justice of Jamaica in 1821. In 1823, Scarlett successfully descended a man against a charge of libel brought by the Duke of Manchester
, the Governor of Jamaica. Scarlett was successful, but even as a Chief Justice, was abused as he left.
He was involved again in another case where he opposed the governor. Scarlett released prisoners but they were rearrested and exiled from Jamaica. Scarlett's decision was in time upheld by the British Parliament.
The case began when Louis Celeste Lecesne
and John Escoffery were arrested on 7 October, 1823 under the Alien Act by a warrant of the Duke of Manchester
, the Governor of Jamaica. They were considered by the Attorney General
, William Burge
to be of a dangerous character and to be aliens as they were clained to be Haitians. Luckily they had time to raise a writ of Habeas Corpus
in the Supreme Court of Jamaica
Scarlett released them, but it took Parliament to uphold his decision. Scarlett was knighted in 1829.
Scarlett died in 1831. His obituary noted that he had been ill and that even his detractors noted his "love of justice". His wife died the following year.
Scarlett was the son of Robert Scarlett who owned property in Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
. His elder brother, James
James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger
James Scarlett, 1st Baron Abinger was an English lawyer, politician and judge.-Background and education:...
, was to become Attorney General. He was educated in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
and at Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
, where he graduated B.A. in 1802. In 1809, Scarlett married Mary Williams of Luana estate in St. Elizabeth.
Scarlett became Chief Justice of Jamaica in 1821. In 1823, Scarlett successfully descended a man against a charge of libel brought by the Duke of Manchester
William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester
Colonel William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester , styled Viscount Mandeville until 1783, was a British peer, soldier, colonial administrator and politician.-Background and education:...
, the Governor of Jamaica. Scarlett was successful, but even as a Chief Justice, was abused as he left.
He was involved again in another case where he opposed the governor. Scarlett released prisoners but they were rearrested and exiled from Jamaica. Scarlett's decision was in time upheld by the British Parliament.
The case began when Louis Celeste Lecesne
Louis Celeste Lecesne
Louis Celeste Lecesne , also known as Lewis Celeste Lecesne, was an anti-slavery activist from the Caribbean islands....
and John Escoffery were arrested on 7 October, 1823 under the Alien Act by a warrant of the Duke of Manchester
William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester
Colonel William Montagu, 5th Duke of Manchester , styled Viscount Mandeville until 1783, was a British peer, soldier, colonial administrator and politician.-Background and education:...
, the Governor of Jamaica. They were considered by the Attorney General
Attorney General of Jamaica
Attorney General of Jamaica is the chief law officer in Jamaica.Section 79 of the Constitution of Jamaica states that "there shall be an Attorney General who shall be the principal legal adviser to the Government of Jamaica" and pursuant to the Crown Proceedings Act all civil proceedings by or...
, William Burge
William Burge
William Burge was a British lawyer and Privy Councillor.-Biography:William Burge matriculated at Oxford University in 1803 and was admitted to the Inner Temple being called to the bar in 1808...
to be of a dangerous character and to be aliens as they were clained to be Haitians. Luckily they had time to raise a writ of Habeas Corpus
Habeas corpus
is a writ, or legal action, through which a prisoner can be released from unlawful detention. The remedy can be sought by the prisoner or by another person coming to his aid. Habeas corpus originated in the English legal system, but it is now available in many nations...
in the Supreme Court of Jamaica
Scarlett released them, but it took Parliament to uphold his decision. Scarlett was knighted in 1829.
Scarlett died in 1831. His obituary noted that he had been ill and that even his detractors noted his "love of justice". His wife died the following year.