Barnes Peacock

Who was Barnes Peacock?

Sir Barnes Peacock was an English judge. He was the first Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court in India. He was the son of Lewis Peacock, a solicitor. After practising as a special pleader, he was called to the bar in 1836. In 1844 he obtained great reputation by pointing out the flaw which invalidated the conviction of Daniel O'Connell and his fellow defendants.

In 1852, he went to India as a legal member of the Governor General's council. The Legislative Council was established soon after his arrival, and although no orator, he was so frequent a speaker that legislation enjoining councillors to deliver their speeches sitting was said to have been devised with the sole object of restraining him. As a member of Lord Dalhousie's council he supported the annexation of Oudh, and he stood by Lord Canning all through the Indian Mutiny.

In 1859 he became the first Chief Justice of the colonial Supreme Court. He was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court on July 1, 1862. He returned to England in 1870 and in 1872 was placed upon the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council, the court of last resort for the British Empire.