Hiram Shaw Wilkinson
Encyclopedia
Sir Hiram Shaw Wilkinson, JP, DL
(1840–1926) was a leading British
judge and diplomat, serving in China and Japan
and Annabella Shaw, daughter of William Shaw, Esq., of Holden's Valley, County Down
. In 1864 he married Prudie Gaffikin (died 1870), the daughter of Thomas Gaffikin, Esq., of Belfast. He had several issue, including Hiram Parkes Wilkinson
, and the Reverend Thomas Gaffkin Wilkinson.
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was educated at Queen's College, Belfast, earning a B.A. in 1864 and LL.D. in 1881. He entered Her Majesty's Consular Service in Japan in 1864, as a student interpreter. He was a confidante of Ernest Satow, the first British student interpreter in Japan
and later British Minister in Japan and then China
.. Student interpreters were required to study the language of the country they were in. Wilkinson spoke fluent Japanese as a result of this time in consular service.
. He would go on to serve as:
In his position as Crown Advocate, Wilkinson, was requested to take on the responsibility of being the lead prosecutor of Edith Carew for the murder of of her husband in 1896 in Yokohama.
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was knighted for his services in 1903. In 1905, Sir Hiram Wilkinson retired from the bench in Shanghai, and moved with his family to the townland of Moneyshanere
, outside Tobermore
, modern-day Northern Ireland
.
His son, Hiram Parkes Wilkinson
succeeded him as Crown Advocate in Shanghai and served in that position until 1925, meaning that father and son held the position for 44 years.
. On 18 November 1918, The Belfast Telegraph
records Hiram Shaw Wilkinson donating money towards a field of battle monument dedicated to those of the 36th Ulster Division that had sacrificed their lives in World War I
. In March 1922 he would receive threats from the IRA. He was also a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) and Deputy Lieutenant
(D.L.) for County Londonderry
.
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson died in September 1926 in Tobermore.
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(1840–1926) was a leading British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
judge and diplomat, serving in China and Japan
Early life
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was born in 1840, the son of John Wilkinson Esq., of BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
and Annabella Shaw, daughter of William Shaw, Esq., of Holden's Valley, County Down
County Down
-Cities:*Belfast *Newry -Large towns:*Dundonald*Newtownards*Bangor-Medium towns:...
. In 1864 he married Prudie Gaffikin (died 1870), the daughter of Thomas Gaffikin, Esq., of Belfast. He had several issue, including Hiram Parkes Wilkinson
Hiram Parkes Wilkinson
Hiram Parkes Wilkinson, BCL, KC served as Crown Advocate of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan from 1897 to 1925. He was also Acting Assistant Judge of the British Court for Siam from 1903 to 1905 and Judge of the British High Court for Weihaiwei from 1916 to 1925...
, and the Reverend Thomas Gaffkin Wilkinson.
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was educated at Queen's College, Belfast, earning a B.A. in 1864 and LL.D. in 1881. He entered Her Majesty's Consular Service in Japan in 1864, as a student interpreter. He was a confidante of Ernest Satow, the first British student interpreter in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
and later British Minister in Japan and then China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.. Student interpreters were required to study the language of the country they were in. Wilkinson spoke fluent Japanese as a result of this time in consular service.
Career
In 1872, Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was admitted to the bar of the Middle TempleMiddle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers; the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn and Lincoln's Inn...
. He would go on to serve as:
- Vice consulVice ConsulA vice consul is a subordinate officer, authorized to exercise consular functions in some particular part of a district controlled by a consulate....
at NeegataNiigatais a name of a place of Japan and the Chubu region.Niigata may refer to:* Niigata - a city in Japan and the capital of Niigata Prefecture* Niigata Prefecture - prefecture in Japan* Albirex Niigata - the city's professional football club...
, Japan (1877) - Law Secretary of the British Consular Court in Kanagawa (1878)
- Acting Assistant Judge (1879) of the British Supreme Court for China and JapanBritish Supreme Court for China and JapanThe British Supreme Court for China and Japan was a court established in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1865 to try cases against British subjects in China and Japan, and from 1883, Korea, under the principles of Extraterritoriality. The court also heard appeals from consular courts in...
- Crown Advocate (1881–1897) of the British Supreme Court for China and JapanBritish Supreme Court for China and JapanThe British Supreme Court for China and Japan was a court established in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1865 to try cases against British subjects in China and Japan, and from 1883, Korea, under the principles of Extraterritoriality. The court also heard appeals from consular courts in...
- British Commissioner for the settlement of claims after the Canton riots (1883)
- Judge of H.M.'s Court for Japan (1897–1900)
- Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and CoreaBritish Supreme Court for China and JapanThe British Supreme Court for China and Japan was a court established in the Shanghai International Settlement in 1865 to try cases against British subjects in China and Japan, and from 1883, Korea, under the principles of Extraterritoriality. The court also heard appeals from consular courts in...
(1900–1905) - Justice of the Peace
In his position as Crown Advocate, Wilkinson, was requested to take on the responsibility of being the lead prosecutor of Edith Carew for the murder of of her husband in 1896 in Yokohama.
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was knighted for his services in 1903. In 1905, Sir Hiram Wilkinson retired from the bench in Shanghai, and moved with his family to the townland of Moneyshanere
Moneyshanere
Moneyshanere is a townland lying within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It lies in the north-west of the parish on the boundary with the civil parish of Ballynascreen, and it is bounded by the townlands of: Calmore, Drumcrow, Drumballyhagan Clark, Duntibryan,...
, outside Tobermore
Tobermore
Tobermore is a small village in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. It is located two and a half miles south of Maghera and five miles west of Magherafelt. Tobermore lies within the civil parish of Kilcronaghan and is part of Magherafelt District Council...
, modern-day Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
.
His son, Hiram Parkes Wilkinson
Hiram Parkes Wilkinson
Hiram Parkes Wilkinson, BCL, KC served as Crown Advocate of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan from 1897 to 1925. He was also Acting Assistant Judge of the British Court for Siam from 1903 to 1905 and Judge of the British High Court for Weihaiwei from 1916 to 1925...
succeeded him as Crown Advocate in Shanghai and served in that position until 1925, meaning that father and son held the position for 44 years.
Later life
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson served as Pro-Chancellor of Queen's College, Belfast from 1914 until his death in 1926. In 1917, he was invited by Lloyd George to join the Irish ConventionIrish Convention
The Irish Convention was an assembly which sat in Dublin, Ireland from July 1917 until March 1918 to address the Irish Question and other constitutional problems relating to an early enactment of self-government for Ireland, to debate its wider future, discuss and come to an understanding on...
. On 18 November 1918, The Belfast Telegraph
The Belfast Telegraph
The Belfast Telegraph is a daily evening newspaper published in Belfast, Northern Ireland by Independent News & Media.It was first published as the Belfast Evening Telegraph on 1 September 1870 by brothers William and George Baird...
records Hiram Shaw Wilkinson donating money towards a field of battle monument dedicated to those of the 36th Ulster Division that had sacrificed their lives in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In March 1922 he would receive threats from the IRA. He was also a Justice of the Peace (J.P.) and Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(D.L.) for County Londonderry
County Londonderry
The place name Derry is an anglicisation of the old Irish Daire meaning oak-grove or oak-wood. As with the city, its name is subject to the Derry/Londonderry name dispute, with the form Derry preferred by nationalists and Londonderry preferred by unionists...
.
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson died in September 1926 in Tobermore.