Lawrence Peel

Who was Lawrence Peel?

Sir Lawrence Peel was a judge in India, chief justice of Calcutta.

Lawrence Peel was third son of Joseph Peel of Bowes Farm, Middlesex, who died in 1821, and Anne, second daughter of Jonathan Haworth of Harcroft, Lancashire. His father was younger brother of the first Sir Robert Peel, and he was thus first cousin of the statesman, the second Sir Robert Peel.

He was sent to Rugby in 1812, and removing to St John's College, Cambridge, graduated B.A. 1821 and M.A. 1824. After his call to the bar at the Middle Temple on 7 May 1824 he went the northern circuit, and attended the Lancaster, Preston, and Manchester sessions. From 1827 to 1830 he was Member of Parliament for Cockermouth.

He served as advocate-general at Calcutta from 1840 to 1842, and in the latter year, on being promoted to the chief-justiceship of the supreme court at Calcutta, was knighted by patent on 18 May. During 1854 and 1855 he was also vice-president of the legislative council at Calcutta. He gave away in public charity the whole of his official income of 8,000l. a year. He was consequently very popular throughout his career in India; and on his retirement in November 1855 a statue of him was erected in Calcutta.