Sir
Charles Henry Major
Attorney General of Grenada
In office
1901–1902
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded byLeslie Probyn
5th Chief Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office
1902–1914
MonarchsEdward VII
George V
Preceded bySir Henry Berkeley
Succeeded byAlbert Ehrhardt (acting)
8th Chief Justice of Fiji
In office
1902–1914
MonarchsEdward VII
George V
Preceded bySir Henry Berkeley
Succeeded byAlbert Ehrhardt (acting)
Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office
1910 – 21 February 1911
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded bySir Everard im Thurn
Succeeded bySir Francis May
Acting Governor of Fiji
In office
1910 – 21 February 1911
MonarchEdward VII
Preceded bySir Everard im Thurn
Succeeded bySir Francis May
Chief Justice of British Guiana
In office
1914 – 31 August 1933
MonarchGeorge V
Personal details
Born30 October 1860
St Kitts
Died31 August 1933(1933-08-31) (aged 72)
NationalityBritish
Spouse(s)Sarah Waterman Branch
m. 21 December 1893
Alma materMiddle Temple

Sir Charles Henry Major (30 October 1860 – 31 August 1933) was a British judge, who served in various colonies around the Caribbean, as well as in Fiji.

Biography

Born in St Kitts, Major was the son of Charles Henry Major Sr., manager of the Colonial Bank of the West Indies, and Francis Frederica Clinckett, of Barbados. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and practised Law in the Leeward Islands from 1887.

He was Chancellor of the Diocese of Antigua from 1889 to 1899, a member of the Legislative Council of Antigua from 1895 to 1899, and a member and President of the General Legislative Council of the Leeward Islands from 1896 to 1900. He served as a member of the Federal Executive Council of the Leeward Islands from 1897 to 1901, as Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Antigua from 1897 to 1899, and Attorney General of Grenada from 1901 to 1902, when he transferred to Fiji.[1][2]

He was appointed Chief Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific and Chief Justice of Fiji in September 1902,[3] serving as such until 1914, then as Chief Justice of British Guiana from 1914 till his death in 1933. During his term as Chief Justice of Fiji, he was ex officio a member of the Legislative Council, and acted as Governor of Fiji in an interim capacity from 1910 to 21 February 1911.

He was given a knighthood in 1911 while serving as Chief Justice of Fiji.

References

  1. ^ Walford, Edward. "The county families of the United Kingdom". The county families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland... (Volume ed.59, yr.1919). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  2. ^ "Sir Charles Henry Major". Gittens One-Name Study. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
  3. ^ "No. 27476". The London Gazette. 23 September 1902. p. 6075.
Government offices Preceded byLeslie Probyn Attorney General of Grenada 1901–1902 Succeeded by Preceded bySir Everard im Thurn ActingHigh Commissioner for the Western Pacific 1910–1911 Succeeded bySir Francis May ActingGovernor of Fiji 1910–1911 Preceded bySir Henry Berkeley ActingChief Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific 1902–1914 Succeeded byAlbert EhrnhardtActing Chief Justice of Fiji 1902–1914 Preceded byHenry Alleyn Bovell Chief Justice of British Guiana 1914–1933 Succeeded byAnthony de Freitas
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