William Ritchie was born at Southampton Row, London in 1817. His father John Ritchie was a Scottish-born merchant of Baltimore. His mother Charlotte Thackeray was aunt to William Makepeace Thackeray. The Thackeray family from Hadley had a long association with India, and her nephew was the novelist. [1]
Ritchie was educated at Eton College 1829 to 1835, and Trinity College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in 1835, graduating B.A. in 1839 and M.A. in 1842. After Cambridge, he entered the Inner Temple.[2] He lived with his family in Albany Street, London while reading for the Bar. His father John was the director of a bank that failed in November 1841, causing the Ritchie family to leave for the continent, to escape creditors.[1]
Ritchie was called to the bar in 1842.[2] He looked to the legal system of British India where he could earn an immediate income, rather than staying in London hoping for briefs.[1] He built up a practice at the Calcutta Bar.[2] He was appointed Advocate-General of Bengal in (1855?), also appointed the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta in 1859. William was appointed Legislative Member of the Council of the Governor-General of India in (1860?). William held these offices until his death in Calcutta on 22 March 1862.
Ritchie had a popular reputation for his gentle, amiable, overly-polite manner and his honourable character. This reputation earned him the nickname "Gentleman Ritchie" at Cambridge.
FamilyEdit
Ritchie proposed to Augusta Trimmer on 28 August 1842 before sailing for India on 1 September on the Prince of Wales. After he made a name for himself at the bar in Calcutta. Augusta joined him there in 1845. They were married on 4 December at St. John's Church, and had eight children. There were sons:[2]
William Irvine Ritchie (1850–1903) of the Education Office
John Gerald Ritchie (1853–1921) of the Indian Civil Service
^ abc Ritchie, John Gerald (1920). The Ritchies in India; extracts from the correspondence of William Ritchie, 1817–1862; and personal reminiscences of Gerald Ritchie. J. Murray. Retrieved 23 October 2010.
^ abcd"Ritchie, William (RTCY835W)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
^"Dr. Edward Duguid Ritchie". The Hospital. 52 (1361): 460. 12 August 1912. PMC5237883.
^Butlin, Robin A. "Freshfield, Douglas William". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/33275. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
^ abAplin, John (2010). The Inheritance of Genius: A Thackeray Family Biography, 1798-1875. Casemate Publishers. p. 298. ISBN9780718892241.
^Old Etonian Association (1903). "The Eton register: Eton College Part 4 1871-80". Internet Archive. Retrieved 26 October 2018.
October 17, 2023
william, ritchie, barrister, william, ritchie, 1817, 1862, english, barrister, advocate, general, bengal, from, 1855, 1862, william, ritchie, 1855, portraitlife, editwilliam, ritchie, born, southampton, london, 1817, father, john, ritchie, scottish, born, merc. William Ritchie 1817 1862 was an English barrister Advocate General of Bengal from 1855 to 1862 William Ritchie 1855 portraitLife EditWilliam Ritchie was born at Southampton Row London in 1817 His father John Ritchie was a Scottish born merchant of Baltimore His mother Charlotte Thackeray was aunt to William Makepeace Thackeray The Thackeray family from Hadley had a long association with India and her nephew was the novelist 1 Ritchie was educated at Eton College 1829 to 1835 and Trinity College Cambridge where he matriculated in 1835 graduating B A in 1839 and M A in 1842 After Cambridge he entered the Inner Temple 2 He lived with his family in Albany Street London while reading for the Bar His father John was the director of a bank that failed in November 1841 causing the Ritchie family to leave for the continent to escape creditors 1 Ritchie was called to the bar in 1842 2 He looked to the legal system of British India where he could earn an immediate income rather than staying in London hoping for briefs 1 He built up a practice at the Calcutta Bar 2 He was appointed Advocate General of Bengal in 1855 also appointed the second Vice Chancellor of the University of Calcutta in 1859 William was appointed Legislative Member of the Council of the Governor General of India in 1860 William held these offices until his death in Calcutta on 22 March 1862 Ritchie had a popular reputation for his gentle amiable overly polite manner and his honourable character This reputation earned him the nickname Gentleman Ritchie at Cambridge Family EditRitchie proposed to Augusta Trimmer on 28 August 1842 before sailing for India on 1 September on the Prince of Wales After he made a name for himself at the bar in Calcutta Augusta joined him there in 1845 They were married on 4 December at St John s Church and had eight children There were sons 2 William Irvine Ritchie 1850 1903 of the Education Office John Gerald Ritchie 1853 1921 of the Indian Civil Service Richmond Ritchie 1854 1912 Edward Duguid Ritchie 1859 1912 physician 3 The daughters were Augusta Charlotte 1847 1910 the eldest married Douglas William Freshfield 4 Emily 1851 1932 unmarried 5 Blanche married Francis Warre Cornish 5 Elinor married Herbert Paul 6 References Edit a b c Ritchie John Gerald 1920 The Ritchies in India extracts from the correspondence of William Ritchie 1817 1862 and personal reminiscences of Gerald Ritchie J Murray Retrieved 23 October 2010 a b c d Ritchie William RTCY835W A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Dr Edward Duguid Ritchie The Hospital 52 1361 460 12 August 1912 PMC 5237883 Butlin Robin A Freshfield Douglas William Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 33275 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b Aplin John 2010 The Inheritance of Genius A Thackeray Family Biography 1798 1875 Casemate Publishers p 298 ISBN 9780718892241 Old Etonian Association 1903 The Eton register Eton College Part 4 1871 80 Internet Archive Retrieved 26 October 2018 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Ritchie barrister amp oldid 1123600389, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
