Ambrose Hardinge Giffard

Sir Ambrose Hardinge Giffard
4th Chief Justice of Ceylon
In office 8 April 1819 – 2 March 1827
Preceded by	Alexander Johnston
Succeeded by	Richard Ottley
5th Advocate Fiscal of Ceylon
In office 26 February 1811 – 1821
Preceded by	William Coke
Succeeded by	Henry Mathews
Personal details
Born	1771 Dublin, Ireland
Died	20 April 1827
Alma mater	Trinity College, Dublin

Sir Ambrose Hardinge Giffard (1771–1827) was chief justice of British Ceylon.

Giffard was born in Dublin in 1771, the eldest son of John Giffard (1745–1819), high sheriff of Dublin in 1794, accountant-general of customs in Dublin, and a prominent loyalist. His mother was Sarah, daughter of William Norton, esq., of Ballynaclash, co. Wexford. Giffard received his Christian names from his relative, Ambrose Hardinge.

After studying for the law he was called to the bar of the Inner Temple, and was appointed chief justice of Ceylon in April 1819. Giffard's health failed, and he was granted leave of absence, but he died on 30 April 1827, while on the homeward voyage, in the "Lady Kennaway", East Indiaman. Before his death a knighthood was conferred upon Giffard, but the title was never gazetted.

Giffard's leisure was devoted to literature, and a selection of poems was published at Ceylon about 1822. Some are reproduced in the Traditions and Recollections of Richard Polwhele.

He married in 1808 Harriet, daughter of Lovell Pennell, esq., of Lyme Regis, and left five sons and five daughters. Admiral Sir George Giffard (1815–1888) was his third son.

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: "". Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900. 

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