John J. Francis
| John Joseph Francis | |
|---|---|
| Unofficial Member of the Sanitary Board | |
|
In office June 1888 – April 1895 |
|
| Personal details | |
| Born |
25 April 1839 Dublin, Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Died | 22 September 1901 (aged 62) Yokohama, Japan |
| Resting place | St. Michael's Catholic Cemetery |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Shirley |
| Alma mater |
Beaumont Lodge, Gray's Inn, London University |
| Occupation | Solicitor, barrister and politician |
John Joseph Francis K.C. (25 April 1839 – 22 September 1901) was a senior counsel in British Colony of Hong Kong and the first elected member of the Sanitary Board.
Francis was born in Dublin in 1839, the eldest son of William Francis Aylward, an Inspector of Irish National Schools, and Teresa Agnes Redmond. His father died in 1847, as did two of his four younger brothers. He attended the Jesuit boarding schools in Ireland from 1852 to 57 and then the Jesuit Novitiate at Beaumont Lodge, Windsor. It appears that he intended to train for the priesthood but in the end of the 1850s he joined the Royal Artillery and came to China in 1859. He stationed in Hong Kong and after a time he left the army and settled down as a civilian.
He was admitted as proctor, attorney and solicitor in January 1869. His admission was moved by the Attorney General, Julian Pauncefote before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, J. J. Smale. The Chinese name for his firm was Fa Lan Shea Shi Chong Sz. He built up a remunerative practice but decided to sell his practice to M. J. D. Stephens, his managing clerk, in December 1873 and studied to be called to the Bar.
In January 1874 Francis was admitted to the Gray's Inn. He matriculated at the London University in 1875 and passed the Intermediate Examination in Laws, obtaining first place of those candidates who achieved second class at honours in 1876. In the same year he won the Lee Essay Prize at the Gray's Inn with the subject "The Judicature Act 1873, stating its object and provisions generally and its probable effect on the administration of the law in England." He was called to the Bar in November 1876.
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