William Richard Townsend (died 1914) was a British lawyer who served with the Colonial Service in the Gambia and Sierra Leone in the early 20th century.
Early life and education edit
Townsend was born the son of Edward and Judith Townsend. He graduated with a bachelor of laws from Trinity College, Dublin.
Legal career edit
Townsend was appointed as Attorney General of the Gambia on 1 May 1902, the first in the colony's history.[1] He was appointed to the Executive and Legislative Councils of the Gambia on 26 September 1902.[2] He was appointed as Chief Magistrate of the Gambia on 18 January 1907, and as a judge in Sierra Leone on 22 October 1908. He was appointed as a circuit judge but also a puisne judge on its Supreme Court.[3][4] He was appointed as the Attorney General of the Gold Coast on 16 November 1912.[5]
Personal life edit
Townsend married Emily Mabel Townshend in 1907. She was the daughter of Richard Horatio Townshend and Frances Maria Maunsell.[6] He died in 1914, killed at sea.
References edit
- ^ Jallow, Hassan B. (2012). Journey for Justice. Bloomington, Indiana: AuthorHouse. p. 177.
- ^ "Downing Street, September 26, 1902" (PDF). The London Gazette. 30 September 1902.
- ^ "Downing Street, January 18, 1907" (PDF). The Edinburgh Gazette. 22 January 1907.
- ^ "Downing Street, October 22, 1908" (PDF). The London Gazette. 23 October 1908.
- ^ "Downing Street, 16th November, 1912" (PDF). The London Gazette. 19 November 1912.
- ^ "Emily Mabel Townshend (6A24)". The Townsend (Townshend) Family Records. Retrieved 25 December 2017.