William Henry Adams (1809 – 29 August 1865) was a British politician (

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), lawyer and colonial judge. His final appointment was as Chief Justice of Hong Kong.

Early life

Adams was born in 1809 and was the son of Thomas Adams of

Norman Cross Norman Cross Prison in Huntingdonshire, England, was the world's first purpose-built prisoner-of-war camp or "depot", built in 1796–97 to hold prisoners of war from France and its allies during the French Revolutionary Wars and Napoleonic War ...

, Huntingdonshire. While still a boy he entered a printing office as a compositor. He read law in his spare time and in 1843 was called to the bar of the

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. He also worked as a law reporter for the ''Morning Herald''.

Political career

Adams was elected unopposed at the 1857 general election as one of the two members of parliament (MPs) for

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, having contested the seat unsuccessfully at the 1852 general election and at a by-election in 1856. He was re-elected unopposed in February 1859 at a by-election following his appointment as

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, but did not stand again at the general election in April 1859.

Legal career

His first judicial appointment was as

of Derby in 1858 while still a member of Parliament. In 1859, Adams was appointed

Attorney General of Hong Kong The Secretary for Justice () is the head of the Department of Justice (Hong Kong), Hong Kong Department of Justice, the chief legal advisor to the Chief Executive of Hong Kong, and the chief law enforcement officer of the Government of Hong Ko ...

. Immediately on his arrival in Hong Kong in September 1859, Adams was appointed acting Chief Justice to replace

John Walter Hulme John Walter Hulme was a British lawyer and Judge. He was the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong, Chief Justice of Hong Kong taking office in 1844. Early life Hulme was born in 1805 in Fenton, Staffordshire, England. He was ...

who had returned to England on sick leave. In his first appearance on the bench "the general consensus of opinion seems to have been one of confidence in his firmness and ability." In August 1860, Hulme retired on a pension and Adams was appointed Chief Justice.

Death

Adams fell ill in 1865 and died, at the age of 56, at the home of his son Captain Adams in Wales on 29 August 1865. Adams had been well liked in Hong Kong and a local paper carried the following eulogy: "It is almost too painful for us to speak of his many estimable qualities, at a time when admiration ought properly give way to grief. There cannot be two opinions as to the ability with which he discharged the duties of his office. A juster more conscientious and abler man never sat upon the Bench in this Colony. Every one must admit that his judgements were delivered with care and with admirable wisdom. He was one of best men that ever came to China or left it."Norton-Kyshe, ''History of the Laws and Courts of Hong Kong', Vol II, p. 83

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, William H 1809 births 1865 deaths Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies UK MPs 1857–1859 British Hong Kong judges Chief Justices of the Supreme Court of Hong Kong Attorneys General of Hong Kong British migrants to British Hong Kong