The Right Honourable Sir James Wigram FRS |
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Vice-Chancellor of the High Court | |
In office 1841–1850 |
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Personal details | |
Nationality | British |
Mother | Eleanor Watts |
Father | Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet |
Relatives |
Sir Robert Fitzwygram, 2nd Baronet Joseph Wigram Octavius Wigram Loftus Wigram George Wigram (all brothers) |
Alma mater | Trinity College, Cambridge |
Occupation | Judge |
Profession | Barrister |
Sir James Wigram, FRS (1793–1866) was an English barrister, politician and judge.
He was the third son, by his second wife (Eleanor, daughter of John Watts), of Sir Robert Wigram, 1st Baronet, and younger brother name of Sir Robert Fitzwygram, 2nd Baronet in 1832; another brother was Joseph Cotton Wigram. Born at his father's residence, Walthamstow House, Essex, on 5 November 1793, James was educated privately and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. in 1815, gained a fellowship two years later, and proceeded M.A. in 1818. Admitted a student of Lincoln's Inn on 18 June 1813, he was called to the bar there on 18 November 1819.
In practice in the Court of Chancery, Wigram built up a career. In Michaelmas vacation 1834 he was made King's Counsel, and, in 1835 became a bencher of Lincoln's Inn. That year he also was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Supported by his wife's family interest, Wigram fought an election for Leominster on Tory principles in 1837, but was defeated at the poll. He was, however, returned for the borough without opposition at the next general election, on 28 June 1841.
On 28 October 1841 Wigram was raised to the bench under the act for the better administration of justice (5 Vict. c. 5), which provided for the appointment of a second Vice-Chancellor of England. He was sworn a member of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council on 15 January 1842, and received the customary knighthood the same month.