T. Muthuswamy Iyer

Sir Thiruvarur Muthuswamy Iyer
A portrait of T. Muthuswamy Iyer
Born	(1832-01-28)28 January 1832 Vuchuwadi, Madras Presidency, British India
Died	25 January 1895(1895-01-25) (aged 62) Madras, British India
Occupation	lawyer, civil servant, administrator

Sir Thiruvarur Muthuswamy Iyer KCIE (28 January 1832 – 25 January 1895) was an Indian lawyer who, in 1877, became the first native Indian to be appointed as judge of the Madras High Court. He also acted as the Chief Justice of the Madras High Court in 1893. He is also one of the first Indians to have a statue.

Iyer was born in a poor Brahmin family of Vuchuwadi in the Tanjore district of the Madras Presidency. He lost his father when he was young and completed his schooling in Madras with the assistance of the tahsildar Muthuswami Naicker.

On completion of his schooling, Iyer served in subordinate posts in the civil service even while continuing his education. Iyer graduated in law from the Presidency College, Madras while serving as the magistrate of police and served as a judge in mofussil centres from 1871 to 1877, when he was appointed to the bench of the High Court of Madras. Iyer served as a judge of the Madras High Court from 1877 till his death in 1895, even acting as the Chief Justice for three months in 1893.

Iyer was acclaimed for his sharp intellect, memory and legal expertise. He advocated social reform and campaigned in support of women's education, widow remarriage and the legal recognition of sambandham. However, he was criticised for his alleged remarks on temple entry and views on Varnashrama Dharma. In 1893, Iyer was made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire in recognition of his services.

Iyer was born in a poor Brahmin family in Vuchuwadi, Madras Presidency, British India on 28 January 1832. Iyer's father, Venkata Narayana Sastri, died when Muthuswamy was young and he moved with his mother to Thiruvarur to make a living. At Thiruvarur, Iyer found employment as village accountant. However, his mother died soon afterward leaving Iyer with little support. Around this time, Iyer's talents were recognised by the tahsildar Muthuswamy Naicker who arranged for the former to study at Sir Henry Montgomery's school in Madras as a companion to his young nephew, and there he won prizes and scholarships year after year.