William Ritchie (barrister)
Encyclopedia
William Ritchie was Advocate-General of Bengal
from 1855 to 1862.
William Ritchie was born at Southampton Row
, London in 1817. His father John Ritchie was a Scottish-born merchant of Baltimore
.
His mother Charlotte Thackeray's family from Hadley
had a long association with India, and her nephew was the novelist William Makepeace Thackeray
.
William Ritchie was educated at Eton
1829 to 1835 and Trinity College, Cambridge
1836 to 1839. After Cambridge, William lived with his family in Albany Street, London while reading for the Bar
. His father John was the director of a bank that failed in November 1841, causing the Ritchie family to flee to the continent to escape creditors. Unable to maintain the expense of reading for the Bar in London, William instead looked to the Indian Bar where he could earn an immediate income to support his parents.
Ritchie proposed to Augusta Trimmer on 28 August 1842 before sailing for India on 1 September on the Prince of Wales. William quickly built a name at the bar in Calcutta. Augusta joined him in Calcutta in 1845 where they were married on 4 December at St. John's Church. William and Augusta had eight children, including Sir Richmond Ritchie
.
Ritchie was appointed Advocate-General of Bengal in (1855?), also appointed the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta
in 1859. William was appointed Legislative Member of the Council of the Governor-General of India
in (1860?). William held these offices until his death in Calcutta on 22 March 1862
William Ritchie had a popular reputation for his gentle, amiable, overly-polite manner and his honourable character. This reputation earned him the nickname "Gentleman Ritchie" at Cambridge.
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
from 1855 to 1862.
William Ritchie was born at Southampton Row
Southampton Row
Southampton Row is major thoroughfare running northwest-southeast in Bloomsbury, Camden, central London, England. The road is designated as part of the A4200.- Location :To the north, Southampton Row adjoins the southeast corner of Russell Square...
, London in 1817. His father John Ritchie was a Scottish-born merchant of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
.
His mother Charlotte Thackeray's family from Hadley
Hadley
- People :Surname* Arthur Twining Hadley , American economist* George Hadley, meteorologist, hence also:** Hadley cell** Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research...
had a long association with India, and her nephew was the novelist William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray
William Makepeace Thackeray was an English novelist of the 19th century. He was famous for his satirical works, particularly Vanity Fair, a panoramic portrait of English society.-Biography:...
.
William Ritchie was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
1829 to 1835 and Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College, Cambridge
Trinity College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. Trinity has more members than any other college in Cambridge or Oxford, with around 700 undergraduates, 430 graduates, and over 170 Fellows...
1836 to 1839. After Cambridge, William lived with his family in Albany Street, London while reading for the Bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
. His father John was the director of a bank that failed in November 1841, causing the Ritchie family to flee to the continent to escape creditors. Unable to maintain the expense of reading for the Bar in London, William instead looked to the Indian Bar where he could earn an immediate income to support his parents.
Ritchie proposed to Augusta Trimmer on 28 August 1842 before sailing for India on 1 September on the Prince of Wales. William quickly built a name at the bar in Calcutta. Augusta joined him in Calcutta in 1845 where they were married on 4 December at St. John's Church. William and Augusta had eight children, including Sir Richmond Ritchie
Richmond Ritchie
Sir Richmond Thackeray Willougby Ritchie was an Indian-born British civil servant who spent most of his working life at the India Office, reaching the post of Permanent Under-Secretary of State for India....
.
Ritchie was appointed Advocate-General of Bengal in (1855?), also appointed the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta
University of Calcutta
The University of Calcutta is a public university located in the city of Kolkata , India, founded on 24 January 1857...
in 1859. William was appointed Legislative Member of the Council of the Governor-General of India
Council of India
The Council of India was the name given at different times to two separate bodies associated with British rule in India.The original Council of India was established by the Regulating Act of 1773 as a council of four formal advisors to the Governor-General at Fort William...
in (1860?). William held these offices until his death in Calcutta on 22 March 1862
William Ritchie had a popular reputation for his gentle, amiable, overly-polite manner and his honourable character. This reputation earned him the nickname "Gentleman Ritchie" at Cambridge.