Nicholas John Hannen
Encyclopedia
Sir Nicholas Hannen was a British barrister, diplomat and judge who served in China and Japan. He was the Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
from 1891 to 1900 and also served concurrently as Consul-General in Shanghai from 1891 to 1897. He was judge of the British Court for Japan from 1881 to 1891. He was the brother of James Hannen a noted British judge of the 19th Century. His son, Nicholas "Beau" Hannen was a famous actor of the early and mid 20th Century.
where he obtained a BA in 1862 with honours in logic and moral philosophy. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple
in 1866. Soon after qualifying as a barrister, in 1868 Hannen moved to Shanghai
to commence practice as a barrister. He married in 1869 to Jessie Woodhouse, the daughter of James Woodhouse of Henley-on-Thames.
From 1871 to 1874 he was appointed Acting Assistant Judge of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
and was based in Yokohama. Following this, he returned to Shanghai to private practice. In 1878 he was appointed Crown Advocate of the Supreme Court, a position akin to that of a colonial attorney general. The Crown Advocate was allowed to accept cases from private clients that did not affect their duties as Crown Advocate.
In 1881, he was appointed as Judge for the British Court for Japan in Yokohama
. Before taking up the appointment, he acted as Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan for more than one year until the new Chief Justice, Sir Richard Rennie, returned from long leave to take up the post.
In 1891, on Rennie's retirement, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
and Consul-General in Shanghai
. This appointment was the first and only time the Chief Justice also served as Consul-General. There was much opposition from foreign residents in China to the amalgamation of the positions. The opposition was not based on Hannen's ability but rather that it was inappropriate for one man to hold a judicial and diplomatic position at the same time. The position of Chief Justice and Consul General were separated in 1897 and Hannen continued as Chief Justice. George Jamieson who had been Assistant Judge and Consul was appointed Consul-General. Frederick Bourne took over the position of Assistant Judge.
Hannen was knighted on July 18, 1895 at Windsor Castle
and received the Jubilee Medal in 1897.
Hannen successor as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was Hiram Shaw Wilkinson
, then judge of the British Court for Japan who had also succeeded Hannen as Crown Advocate in 1881.
British Supreme Court for China and Japan
The 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...
from 1891 to 1900 and also served concurrently as Consul-General in Shanghai from 1891 to 1897. He was judge of the British Court for Japan from 1881 to 1891. He was the brother of James Hannen a noted British judge of the 19th Century. His son, Nicholas "Beau" Hannen was a famous actor of the early and mid 20th Century.
Early life
Hannen was born on 24 August 1842. He was the 6th son of James Hannen of Kingswood, Dulwich. He was educated at the City of London School and University College LondonUniversity College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
where he obtained a BA in 1862 with honours in logic and moral philosophy. He was called to the Bar at the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, 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...
in 1866. Soon after qualifying as a barrister, in 1868 Hannen moved to Shanghai
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
to commence practice as a barrister. He married in 1869 to Jessie Woodhouse, the daughter of James Woodhouse of Henley-on-Thames.
Career
Hannen held the following appointments in China and Japan:- Assistant Judge 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...
based in Yokokama (1871 to 1874) - Crown Advocate, Shanghai (1878 to 1881)
- Judge of the British Court for Japan (1881 to 1891)
- Acting Chief Justice 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...
(1881 to 1883) - Chief Justice 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...
(1891 to 1900) - British Consul-General, Shanghai (1891 to 1897)
From 1871 to 1874 he was appointed Acting Assistant Judge of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
British Supreme Court for China and Japan
The 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...
and was based in Yokohama. Following this, he returned to Shanghai to private practice. In 1878 he was appointed Crown Advocate of the Supreme Court, a position akin to that of a colonial attorney general. The Crown Advocate was allowed to accept cases from private clients that did not affect their duties as Crown Advocate.
In 1881, he was appointed as Judge for the British Court for Japan in Yokohama
Yokohama
is the capital city of Kanagawa Prefecture and the second largest city in Japan by population after Tokyo and most populous municipality of Japan. It lies on Tokyo Bay, south of Tokyo, in the Kantō region of the main island of Honshu...
. Before taking up the appointment, he acted as Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan for more than one year until the new Chief Justice, Sir Richard Rennie, returned from long leave to take up the post.
In 1891, on Rennie's retirement, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan
British Supreme Court for China and Japan
The 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...
and Consul-General in Shanghai
Shanghai International Settlement
The Shanghai International Settlement began originally as a purely British settlement. It was one of the original five treaty ports which were established under the terms of the Treaty of Nanking at the end of the first opium war in the year 1842...
. This appointment was the first and only time the Chief Justice also served as Consul-General. There was much opposition from foreign residents in China to the amalgamation of the positions. The opposition was not based on Hannen's ability but rather that it was inappropriate for one man to hold a judicial and diplomatic position at the same time. The position of Chief Justice and Consul General were separated in 1897 and Hannen continued as Chief Justice. George Jamieson who had been Assistant Judge and Consul was appointed Consul-General. Frederick Bourne took over the position of Assistant Judge.
Hannen was knighted on July 18, 1895 at Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
and received the Jubilee Medal in 1897.
Untimely Death
Hannen was due to retire in May 1900. He died of heart failure brought on by an attack of pneumonia on 27 April 1900, 2 weeks before his departure from Shanghai for the town of Wargrave, near London. Funeral services were conducted for Hannen in Shanghai. He was cremated and his ashes taken back to England. In 1907 his ashes were lodged in the Hannen Columbarium that had been built by the Hannen family in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in WargraveHannen successor as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was Hiram Shaw Wilkinson
Hiram Shaw Wilkinson
Sir Hiram Shaw Wilkinson, JP, DL was a leading British judge and diplomat, serving in China and Japan-Early life:Hiram Shaw Wilkinson was born in 1840, the son of John Wilkinson Esq., of Belfast and Annabella Shaw, daughter of William Shaw, Esq., of Holden's Valley, County Down...
, then judge of the British Court for Japan who had also succeeded Hannen as Crown Advocate in 1881.