Frederick Greer, 1st Baron Fairfield
Encyclopedia
Frederick Arthur Greer, 1st Baron Fairfield PC
(1 October 1863 - 4 February 1945) was a British lawyer and judge. Born to a merchant and his wife, Greer became a barrister
and member of Gray's Inn
, practicing in Liverpool. In 1910 he became a King's Counsel, and in 1919 a judge of the High Court of Justice
. In 1939 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Fairfield.
and the Isle of Man
, and his wife, Mary Moore Greer. He was educated at Old Aberdeen
Grammar School before studying mental philosophy at the University of Aberdeen
, where he graduated with first-class honours and won the Fullerton scholarship.
after winning the Bacon
and Arden scholarships, and began practising as a barrister
in Liverpool, where he met Moelwyn Hughes
and Rigby Swift
among others. His practice steadily grew, and in 1910 he became a King's Counsel. After continuing his career in London he was appointed a judge of the High Court of Justice
by Lord Birkenhead, and given the customary knighthood.
In 1927 he became a Lord Justice of Appeal
, sitting in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
, and was also made a Privy Councillor
. In 1932 he served as the British representative to the International Congress of Comparative Law at The Hague
, and in 1939 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Fairfield, of Caldy in the County Palatine of Chester. He died at home on 4 February 1945, at which point the peerage became extinct.
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
(1 October 1863 - 4 February 1945) was a British lawyer and judge. Born to a merchant and his wife, Greer became a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and member of Gray's Inn
Gray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, practicing in Liverpool. In 1910 he became a King's Counsel, and in 1919 a judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
. In 1939 he was elevated to the peerage as Baron Fairfield.
Background and education
Greer was born to merchant Arthur Greer, who lived in LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
and the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
, and his wife, Mary Moore Greer. He was educated at Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen
Old Aberdeen is part of the city of Aberdeen in Scotland. Old Aberdeen was originally a separate burgh, which was erected into a burgh of barony on 26 December 1489. It was incorporated into adjacent Aberdeen by Act of Parliament in 1891...
Grammar School before studying mental philosophy at the University of Aberdeen
University of Aberdeen
The University of Aberdeen, an ancient university founded in 1495, in Aberdeen, Scotland, is a British university. It is the third oldest university in Scotland, and the fifth oldest in the United Kingdom and wider English-speaking world...
, where he graduated with first-class honours and won the Fullerton scholarship.
Career
In 1886 he was called to the Bar at Gray's InnGray's Inn
The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, commonly known as Gray's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
after winning the Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
and Arden scholarships, and began practising as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in Liverpool, where he met Moelwyn Hughes
Moelwyn Hughes
Ronw Moelwyn Hughes , known as Moelwyn Hughes was a Welsh lawyer and a Liberal and Labour politician who was elected to two brief terms as a Member of Parliament ....
and Rigby Swift
Rigby Swift
Sir Rigby Philip Watson Swift KC was a British barrister, Member of Parliament and judge. Born into a family of solicitors and barristers, Swift was educated at Parkfield School before taking up a place in his father's chambers and at the same time studying for his LLB at the University of London...
among others. His practice steadily grew, and in 1910 he became a King's Counsel. After continuing his career in London he was appointed a judge of the High Court of Justice
High Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
by Lord Birkenhead, and given the customary knighthood.
In 1927 he became a Lord Justice of Appeal
Lord Justice of Appeal
A Lord Justice of Appeal is an ordinary judge of the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, the court that hears appeals from the High Court of Justice, and represents the second highest level of judge in the courts of England and Wales-Appointment:...
, sitting in the Court of Appeal of England and Wales
Court of Appeal of England and Wales
The Court of Appeal of England and Wales is the second most senior court in the English legal system, with only the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom above it...
, and was also made a Privy Councillor
Privy Council of the United Kingdom
Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, usually known simply as the Privy Council, is a formal body of advisers to the Sovereign in the United Kingdom...
. In 1932 he served as the British representative to the International Congress of Comparative Law at The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, and in 1939 he was raised to the peerage as Baron Fairfield, of Caldy in the County Palatine of Chester. He died at home on 4 February 1945, at which point the peerage became extinct.