John Winfield Bonser

The Right Honourable
Sir John Winfield Bonser
PC KC
Sir John Bonser
Chief Justice of Ceylon
In office
1893–1902
Preceded byJohn Budd Phear
Succeeded byJoseph Turner Hutchinson
Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements
In office
1893–1893
Preceded byElliot Bovill
Succeeded byWilliam Henry Hyndman Jones
Personal details
Born(1847-10-24)24 October 1847
North Walsham, Norfolk, England
Died9 December 1914(1914-12-09) (aged 67)
London, England
SpouseMary Catherine Colville
EducationChrist's College, Cambridge; Lincoln's Inn
OccupationLawyer, judge
AwardsKnights Bachelor

Sir John Winfield Bonser, PC (24 October 1847 – 9 December 1914) was a British colonial judge. He served as the Chief Justice of Ceylon for almost 10 years.

Early life

Bonser was the son of Reverend John Bonser.[1] He was born in Walsham, Norfolk, in 1847.

Bonser was educated at Ashby Grammar School, Loughborough Grammar School, Heath Grammar School admitted October 1863, and Christ's College, Cambridge and Lincoln's Inn.

He was Attorney General of the Straits Settlements between 1883 and 1893. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements, in 1893, on the untimely death from cholera of the incumbent Chief Justice, Elliot Bovill. He soon transferred to Ceylon where he served as Chief Justice of Ceylon from 1893 to 1902.[2] He was knighted in 1894.[3]

He was appointed to the Privy Council on 11 June 1902,[4] and sat as a Member of Judicial Committee of the Privy Council from 1902 onwards.[5]

Marriage

Bonser married Mary Catherine Colville, daughter of Colonel Hon. Sir William James Colville and Georgiana Mary Montagu Baillie, on 19 April 1899.[1]

Death

Bonser died in London, England in December 1914.[6]

References

  1. ^ a b Sir John Winfield-Bonser, thepeerage.com
  2. ^ "No. 26431". The London Gazette. 1 August 1893. p. 4574.
  3. ^ "No. 26485". The London Gazette. 16 February 1894. p. 984.
  4. ^ "No. 27442". The London Gazette. 13 June 1902. p. 3833.
  5. ^ "No. 27382". The London Gazette. 3 December 1901. p. 8559.
  6. ^ North China Herald, 19 December 1914, p60