Biography William Grantham

sir william grantham born 23 october 1835 in lewes, sussex, england george grantham , sarah grantham (née verrall). educated @ king s college school, , called bar in 1863, becoming member of inner temple. appointed queen s counsel in 1877.

grantham married emma l wilson on 15 february 1865 in sussex, england. couple had 7 children: william wilson grantham, emma laura grantham, constance grantham, frederick grantham, gertrude grantham, maud grantham , muriel georgina grantham. related famous british astronomer , chemist warren de la rue paternal grandfather of wife of son, william wilson grantham.

he conservative member of parliament (mp) east surrey 1874 1885 , elected croydon in 1885, resigned in 1886 on appointment judge of queen s bench division. in parliament, frequent speaker seen militant opponent of gladstone.

as judge, seen competent weakness commenting on cases in way brought him conflict various groups, habit led hints in newspapers should retire. tenure judge uncontroversial until 1906, when, in series of decisions on election petitions following general election of year, in bodmin, maidstone , great yarmouth, seen favouring conservatives. censure motion proposed in house of commons , led vigorous debate, government declined take further, possibly because of precedent set.

five years later, indiscreet speech grand jury in liverpool led judge being rebuked prime minister, h. h. asquith, in house of commons, 1 of severest ever dealt english judge minister of crown . died later year, of pneumonia, in house in eaton square, london, aged 76.