Richard Feetham
Encyclopedia
Richard Feetham was a lawyer, politician and judge in South Africa
. He was chairman of the Feetham Function Committee
on Constitutional Reform in India (1918-1919) and of the Irish Boundary Commission (1924-1925).
He was born in Penrhos, Monmouthshire
, the fifth son of the Reverend William and Mary Feetham; he was educated at Marlborough College
and New College, Oxford
. He read law in Lincolns Inn and was called to the Bar
in 1899. He served with the Inns of Court Rifles
in the Second Boer War
. He was one of the young lawyers selected by Lord Milner
to assist him in a policy of reconstruction following the Treaty of Vereeniging
, who became known as "Milner's Kindergarten
".
Feetham became deputy town clerk of Johannesburg
in 1902 and town clerk the following year. In April 1905, he resigned from the Town Council and was appointed to the South African Bar
. He was legal adviser to Lord Selborne, the High Commissioner in 1907 and a member of the Legislative Council of the Transvaal from (1907-1910). In 1915 he was elected to the House of Assembly of South Africa
for the Parktown constituency in Johannesburg. During World War I
, Feetham was an officer in the South African Cape Corps
and served in East Africa
and Egypt.
He resigned from Parliament in 1923 to become a judge. In 1930 he was appointed Judge President of the Natal
Provincial Division, and in 1939 became Judge of Appeal in Bloemfontein
.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. He was chairman of the Feetham Function Committee
Feetham Function Committee
The Feetham Function Committee was one of three British committees which sat in Indian from 1918-1919, including also the Southborough Franchise Committee and the Committee on Home Administration...
on Constitutional Reform in India (1918-1919) and of the Irish Boundary Commission (1924-1925).
He was born in Penrhos, Monmouthshire
Penrhos, Monmouthshire
-History and amenities:Penrhos has an old Norman motte and bailey castle site. Raglan Castle is located just north of Raglan village. Penrhos sits on a tributary stream of the River Trothy.The parish church is dedicated to Saint Cadoc .-External links:* *...
, the fifth son of the Reverend William and Mary Feetham; he was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
. He read law in Lincolns Inn and was called to the Bar
Call 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 a "call to the bar"...
in 1899. He served with the Inns of Court Rifles
Inns of Court Regiment
The Inns of Court Regiment was a British Army regiment which existed under that name between May 1932 and May 1961. However, the unit traces its lineage back much further, to at least 1584, and its name lives on within The Inns of Court & City and Essex Yeomanry .-History:The first organised...
in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He was one of the young lawyers selected by Lord Milner
Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner
Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner KG, GCB, GCMG, PC was a British statesman and colonial administrator who played an influential leadership role in the formulation of foreign and domestic policy between the mid-1890s and early 1920s...
to assist him in a policy of reconstruction following the Treaty of Vereeniging
Treaty of Vereeniging
The Treaty of Vereeniging was the peace treaty, signed on 31 May 1902, that ended the South African War between the South African Republic and the Republic of the Orange Free State, on the one side, and the British Empire on the other.This settlement provided for the end of hostilities and...
, who became known as "Milner's Kindergarten
Milner's Kindergarten
Milner's Kindergarten is an informal reference to a group of Britons who served in the South African Civil Service under High Commissioner Alfred, Lord Milner, between the Second Boer War and the founding of the Union of South Africa. They were in favour of the South African union and, ultimately,...
".
Feetham became deputy town clerk of Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
in 1902 and town clerk the following year. In April 1905, he resigned from the Town Council and was appointed to the South African Bar
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
. He was legal adviser to Lord Selborne, the High Commissioner in 1907 and a member of the Legislative Council of the Transvaal from (1907-1910). In 1915 he was elected to the House of Assembly of South Africa
House of Assembly of South Africa
The House of Assembly was the lower house of the Parliament of South Africa from 1910 to 1984, and latterly the white representative house of the Tricameral Parliament from 1984 to 1994, when it was replaced by the current National Assembly...
for the Parktown constituency in Johannesburg. During 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...
, Feetham was an officer in the South African Cape Corps
Cape Corps
The Cape Corps and its predecessor units were the main military organizations in which the Coloured members of South Africa's population served.- 1781 - 1878 :...
and served in East Africa
East African Campaign (World War I)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles and guerrilla actions which started in German East Africa and ultimately affected portions of Mozambique, Northern Rhodesia, British East Africa, Uganda, and the Belgian Congo. The campaign was effectively ended in November 1917...
and Egypt.
He resigned from Parliament in 1923 to become a judge. In 1930 he was appointed Judge President of the Natal
Natal Provincial Council
The Natal Provincial Council was the Natal legislature. It was created by the South Africa Act 1909, with effect from the formation of the Union of South Africa on 31 May 1910....
Provincial Division, and in 1939 became Judge of Appeal in Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein
Bloemfontein is the capital city of the Free State Province of South Africa; and, as the judicial capital of the nation, one of South Africa's three national capitals – the other two being Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Pretoria, the administrative capital.Bloemfontein is popularly and...
.