Albert Charles Clauson, 1st Baron Clauson

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

, PC (14 January 1870 – 15 March 1946) was a British barrister and judge who sat as a

Lord Justice of Appeal A Lord Justice of Appeal or Lady Justice of Appeal is a judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, the Crown Court and other courts and tribunals. A Lord (or Lady) Just ...

Background and education

Clauson was born on 14 January 1870 to Charles Clauson, a merchant, and his wife Julia Burton. After attending the Merchant Taylors' School in 1881 he was offered a scholarship to

St John's College, Oxford St John's College is a Colleges of the University of Oxford, constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded as a men's college in 1555, it has been coeducational since 1979.Communication from Michael Riordan, college archivist Its foun ...

, where he gained a first in classics and literature.

Legal and judicial career

In 1891 he was

called to the Bar The call to the bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received "call to ...

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

, and thanks to his association with his uncle, Henry Buckley, he gained a large practice extremely early. Acting as editor of the seventh and eighth editions of Buckley's ''Company Law'', Clauson was made

King's Counsel A King's Counsel (Post-nominal letters, post-nominal initials KC) is a senior lawyer appointed by the monarch (or their Viceroy, viceregal representative) of some Commonwealth realms as a "Counsel learned in the law". When the reigning monarc ...

in 1910. During the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

he worked for the Admiralty for free, and in thanks was made a

in 1920. In 1926 Clauson was made a judge of the

Chancery Division The High Court of Justice in London, known properly as His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Senior Courts of England and Wales. Its name is abbreviated as EWHC (England ...

of the

High Court of Justice The High Court of Justice in London, known properly as His Majesty's High Court of Justice in England, together with the Court of Appeal (England and Wales), Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, are the Courts of England and Wales, Senior Cour ...

, receiving the customary knighthood. After twelve years on the bench he was sworn in as a

in 1936 and made a Privy Councillor, but retired in 1942. Following his retirement he was made Baron Clauson, of Hawkshead in the County of Hertford, and as a Lord of Appeal heard cases in the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

. Lord Clauson died on 15 March 1946, and having no children, the peerage became extinct on his death.

Arms

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clauson 1870 births 1946 deaths Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Lord justices of appeal Knights Bachelor Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Chancery Division judges Members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council Barons created by George VI