William Richard Townsend

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William Richard Townsend (d. 1914) was a British lawyer who served with the Colonial Service in the Gambia and Sierra Leone in the early 20th century.

Early life and education[]

Townsend was born the son of Edward and Judith Townsend. He graduated with a bachelor of laws from Trinity College, Dublin.[1]

Legal career[]

Townsend was appointed as Attorney General of the Gambia on 1 May 1902, the first in the colony's history.[1][2] He was appointed to the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Gambia on 26 September 1902.[3] He was appointed as Chief Magistrate of the Gambia on 18 January 1907, and as a judge in Sierra Leone on 22 October 1908. He was appointed as a circuit judge but also a puisne judge on its Supreme Court.[4][5] He was appointed as the Attorney General of the Gold Coast on 16 November 1912.[6]

Personal life[]

Townsend married Emily Mabel Townshend in 1907. She was the daughter of Richard Horatio Townshend and Frances Maria Maunsell.[7] He died in 1914, killed at sea.[1]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "William Richard Townsend". The Peerage. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  2. ^ Jallow, Hassan B. (2012). Journey for Justice. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. p. 177.
  3. ^ "Downing Street, September 26, 1902" (PDF). The London Gazette. 30 September 1902.
  4. ^ "Downing Street, January 18, 1907" (PDF). The Edinburgh Gazette. 22 January 1907.
  5. ^ "Downing Street, October 22, 1908" (PDF). The London Gazette. 23 October 1908.
  6. ^ "Downing Street, 16th November, 1912" (PDF). The London Gazette. 19 November 1912.
  7. ^ "Emily Mabel Townshend (6A24)". The Townsend (Townshend) Family Records. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
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