Campbell, C.M.

Updated October 8, 2014

C.M. Campbell, judge, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1847 to 1848. He was appointed acting Chief Justice in December 1847 in the place of John Walter Hulme, who had been suspended in accordance with the instructions of the Chief Secretary of State for Colonies.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846, 1848 and 1850.

Miles, W.H.

Updated October 9, 2014

W.H. Miles, judicial official, civil servant, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1848. He was the Chief Clerk in the Police Magistracy in 1846. He was the Third Clerk in Colonial Treasurer's Office in 1848.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846, 1848 and 1850.

De Jesus, Joao

Updated October 5, 2014

Joao de Jesus, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1848. He was the Portuguese Interpreter in the Police Magistracy in 1846.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846, 1848 and 1850. Williams, Samuel Wells (Ed.), Chinese Repository, Vol. 17, January to December, 1848. Canton: 1848.

Brooksbank, John

Updated October 28, 2014

John Brooksbank, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1845 to 1848. He was the Usher of the Supreme Court between 1846 and 1848.

Selected Bibliography: Bridgman, Elijah Coleman (Ed.), Chinese Repository, Vol. 14, January to December, 1845. Canton: 1845. Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846, 1848 and 1850.

Sterling, Paul Ivy

Updated September 18, 2014

Paul Ivy Sterling, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1846. He was Attorney General in Hong Kong in 1846. He was an ex officio member of the Legislative Council in 1846.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846, 1848 and 1850.

Parker, Norcott D'Esterre

Updated October 10, 2014

Norcott D'Esterre Parker, barrister, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1848 to 1850. He was appointed acting Criminal Crown Prosecutor in 1848. He was a member of the Committee of the Victoria Library and Reading Room 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Muckseff, Syed

Updated August 18, 2014

Syed Muckseff, court adviser, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1850. He was the Mahomedan Priest of the Supreme Court^[1] in 1850.

[1] I have no idea why the Supreme Court put a Mahomedan Priest in its staff; probably as an adviser on Mahomedan Law? Will definitely pursue this.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Trotter, George A.

Updated September 20, 2014

George A. Trotter, court official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1850. He was Clerk to Chief Justice, Supreme Court between 1846 and 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Sterling, Paul Ivy

Updated October 9, 2014

Paul Ivy Sterling, government lawyer, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from July 1844 to 1855. He was Hong Kong's Attorney General between 1844 and 1855. He was the Queen's Advocate of the Vice Admiralty Court in 1850, and an ex officio member of the Legislative Council in the same year. Gough Street was listed as his address in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Endacott, G.B., A Biographical Sketch-Book of Early Hong Kong, Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press, 2005. Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850. Williams, Samuel Wells (Ed.), Chinese Repository, Vol. 17, January to December, 1848. Canton: 1848.

Smithers, John

Updated August 23, 2014

John Smithers, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1850. He was the Clerk, Chief Usher and Bailiff of the Supreme Court in 1850.

Smithers died in Hong Kong on September 5, 1859 and was buried at the Hong Kong Cemetery.

Selected Bibliography: Find A Grave [online]. Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Smith, Frederick

Updated September 20, 2014

Frederick Smith, court official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1850. He was the Deputy Registrar of the Supreme Court between 1846 and 1850. He was the Surrogate of the Vice Admiralty Court in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Quin, Michael

Updated August 18, 2014

Michael Quin, court official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1805. He was the 2nd Chief Clerk of the Magistrate Court in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Parker, William D'Esterre

Updated August 23, 2014

William D'Esterre Parker, solicitor. was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1850. He carried on a private law practice as solicitor and notary public in 1850. He was Queen's Proctor of the Vice Admiralty Court and Proctor of the Supreme Court in 1850. Queen's Road was listed as his address in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Mittin, Thomas

Updated August 13, 2014

Thomas Mittin, gaoler, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1850. He was a gaoler in the Hong Kong Police Force in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Mitchell, William Henry

Updated October 12, 2014

William Henry Mitchell, merchant, newspaper editor, judicial official, civil servant, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1860. He was the founder and proprietor of the mercantile firm, Mitchell & Co. He succeeded John Cairns as editor of the Hong Kong Register in 1849. He was appointed Assistant Chief Magistrate of Police, Sheriff, Provost Marshal, Coroner and Marshal of the Vice-admiralty Court in 1850 (vice Charles Gordon Holdforth). He was a Justice of the Peace (official) between March 28, 1850 and 1860. He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, China Branch in 1850. Gough Street Was listed as his address in 1850. He retired in 1860 due to ill health. He received his first pension payment of £156 from the Hong Kong Government on September 16, 1861.

Mitchell was born in 1815 to Irish merchant, David Mitchell, of Galway. He was educated at the Trinity College in Dublin. He joined the British Colonial Service and was sent to Amoy (Xiamen) 廈門 to work as a clerk at the British Consulate. He became consular assistant in 1844. He came to Hong Kong in 1846 and returned to the U.K. in 1860. He matriculated at the Lincoln's Inn on March 13, 1863 to read law. Soon after having been called to the Bar on June 9, 1865, he returned to Hong Kong, and thence to Shanghai, where he carried on a private law practice.

[Mitchell was accused by Attorney General Thomas Chisholm Anstey (b.1816-d.1873)  in June 1856 of extorting money from prisoners while in the office of Sheriff and Acting Chief Magistrate.]

Selected Bibliography: Foster, Joseph, Man at the Bar 1885, 2nd Edition, London: Hazel, Watson and Viney, Limited, 1885, p.356. Gwulo: Old Hong Kong [online]. Hong Kong's First [online]. Hong Kong Government, Pensions Payable out of the Revenues of the Colony, 1871. Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Lanca, Eugenio L.

Updated August 18, 2014

Eugenio L. Lanca, court official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1850. He was the Malaya and Bangali Interpreter of the Supreme Court in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Hulme, John Walter

Updated September 18, 2014

John Walter Hulme, judge, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1850. He was Hong Kong's Chief Justice; Judge and Commissary, Vice Admiralty Court from 1846 to 1850. He was an ex officio member of the Legislative Council from 1844 to 1860^[1]. He was a member of the Royal Asiatic Society, China Branch in 1850. Herjeebhoy Hill was listed as his address in 1850.

[1] This was the only time in the history of Hong Kong at which a sitting judge was appointed to the legislature.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Holdforth, Charles Gordon

Updated October 10, 2014

Charles Gordon Holdforth, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1850. He was the Deputy Sheriff and Coroner in 1846. He was Assistant Chief Magistrate of Police between 1848 and 1850. He was Sheriff and Provost Marshal, Marshal of the Vice Admiralty Court, and Coroner in 1850. He was a Justice of the Peace (official) in 1850. Caine Road was listed as his address in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850. Williams, Samuel Wells (Ed.), Chinese Repository, Vol. 17, January to December, 1848. Canton: 1848.

Hillier, Charles Batten

Updated September 25, 2014

Charles Batten Hillier, judicial official, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong from 1846 to 1850. He was the Assistant Magistrate of Police in 1846, and was the Chief Magistrate of Police in 1850. He was a Justice of the Peace (official) between 1843 and 1850^[1]. He sat in a number of committees including the Committee of Supervision of the Government Chinese Free Schools at Victoria, Aberdeen and Stanley, the Standing Committee of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; and the Standing Committee of the Incorporated Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts in 1850. He was the Recording Secretary of the Morrison Education Society in 1850. Caine Road was listed as his address in 1850.

Hillier was the British Vice Consul in Macau in 1843.

[1] He was one of the first 44 Justices of Peace ever to be appointed in Hong Kong. Their appointments were announced by Henry Pottinger on the fifth day after he had sworn in as the first Colonial Governor. The date was June 30 ,1843.

Selected Bibliography: Hong Kong's First [internet]. Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.

Goodings, Robert

Updated August 9, 2014

Robert Goodings, judicial officials, was listed as a resident of Hong Kong in 1850. He was the Usher of the Magistrate Court in 1850. He was a Freemason and was the Tyler of the Zetland Lodge in 1850.

Selected Bibliography: Tarrent, William, The Hong Kong Almanack and Directory for the Year 1846, 1848, 1850, Hong Kong: China Mail, resp. 1846,1848 and 1850.