The Right Honourable The Lord Wilberforce CMG, OBE, PC |
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Lord of Appeal in Ordinary | |
In office 1964–1982 |
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Personal details | |
Born | 11 March 1907 |
Died | 15 February 2003 (aged 95) |
Nationality | English |
Alma mater | New College, Oxford |
Profession | Barrister, Judge |
Richard Orme Wilberforce, Baron Wilberforce CMG OBE PC QC (11 March 1907 – 15 February 2003), was a British judge.
Richard Wilberforce was a great-great-grandson of the famous abolitionist William Wilberforce, and son of Samuel, a judge of the Lahore High Court. His mother Katherine was the daughter of Bishop John Sheepshanks. He was born in Jullundur, India and attended Norwich School, Sandroyd School, Winchester College and New College, Oxford, and was later elected a Fellow of All Souls College. He was called to the Bar in 1932 and became a Queen's Counsel in 1954.
During World War II, Wilberforce served in the British Army, fighting in the Norwegian Campaign before being posted to the War Office. In 1944 he was attached to the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force. He ended the War with the honorary rank of Brigadier. For his wartime service, Wilberforce was appointed an OBE and received the American Bronze Star.
After the War, Wilberforce returned to the bar. He appeared in a number of high-profile International Court of Justice cases, such as the Corfu Channel case and the Norwegian Fisheries case. He was appointed a CMG in 1956.
In the 1950 election, he stood for Kingston upon Hull Central as the Conservative candidate, but lost.