Francis William Maclean

Who was Francis William Maclean?

Sir Francis William Maclean, KCIE was an English barrister and Liberal Party politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1891.

Maclean was the son of Alexander Maclean, of Barrow Hedges, Carshalton, Surrey. He was educated at Westminster School and at Trinity College, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at Inner Temple in 1868.

In 1885 Maclean was elected Member of Parliament for Woodstock. He became a Liberal Unionist member following the ructions of 1886. He held the seat until 1891.

Maclean was made a Q.C. in 1886. After resigning his seat he was Master in Lunacy until 1896, becoming a bencher in 1892. From 1896 to 1909 he was Chief Justice of Bengal. He was knighted in 1896 and awarded K.C.I.E. in 1898. His career in India included the chairmanship of famine relief committees in 1897, 1900 and 1907, as well as a short spell as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta between 1898 and 1900.

Maclean resided latterly in London and died at the age of 68.

Maclean married Mattie Sowerby of Benwell Tower, Northumberland in August 1869.