William_James_Smith
William James Smith
British lawyer
Sir William James Smith (1853–1912) was a British jurist who served as the chief justice of the Supreme Court of Cyprus, British Guiana and the Transvaal. He was knighted by letters patent in 1896.[1]
Smith was born in 1853 and was educated at Trinity Hall, Cambridge, he was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1875.[2] He became the Puisne Judge of the Gold Coast Colony when he was aged 27.[2] Smith moved to Cyprus in 1882 as Judge of the Supreme Court before becoming the Chief Justice.[2] From 1897 he was Chief Justice of British Guiana.[2] In late 1902 he was appointed Judge of the Transvaal high court.[3][4]
Smith married in 1896 to Ella March.[2] He died in London on 15 November 1912 aged 59.[4]