Edward Loughlin O'Malley facts for kids
Sir Edward Loughlin O'Malley (born February 17, 1842 – died August 16, 1932) was an important British lawyer and judge. He worked in many different British colonies during the late 1800s and early 1900s. He held important jobs like attorney general and chief justice. Before he retired, he was the chief judge of the British court in the Ottoman Empire (which is now Turkey).
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Early Life and Education
Edward O'Malley was born on February 17, 1842. His family was Anglo-Irish, meaning they had both English and Irish roots. His father, Peter Frederick O'Malley, was a well-known lawyer called a QC. The O'Malley family came from County Mayo in the west of Ireland.
Edward went to Trinity College, Cambridge, a famous university. He earned his first degree there in 1864 and a master's degree in 1868. After college, he studied law and became a barrister in 1866. This meant he could argue cases in court. He worked as a lawyer in England for a while.
His Family Life
In 1869, Edward O'Malley married Emma Winifred Hardcastle. Emma was the daughter of Joseph Hardcastle, who was a Member of Parliament (MP). Emma was very interested in plants and was a botanist. She collected many plants in places like Hong Kong and Jamaica. Her plant collection is now kept at the British Museum (Natural History).
Edward and Emma had two sons. One son, Owen, grew up to become a senior British diplomat. This meant he worked for the British government in other countries. Their other son, Charles Loughlin Meyler Brent O'Malley, became a lieutenant colonel in the Royal Artillery, which is part of the army.
Important Legal Jobs
Sir Edward O'Malley had a long and successful career in law.
Attorney General Roles
In 1876, he was chosen to be the Attorney General of Jamaica. An attorney general is the main legal advisor to the government. Then, from 1879 to 1889, he served as the Attorney General of Hong Kong. While he was attorney general, he was also allowed to take on private legal cases, as long as they didn't conflict with his official duties.
In 1881, he worked on a special case in China. He and another lawyer, Thomas Hayllar, helped defend a British employee. This employee worked for the customs service and was involved in a serious incident.
Chief Justice Positions
In 1889, Sir Edward O'Malley was given an even more important role. He became the Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements. This meant he was the top judge in Singapore and nearby areas. He was knighted in 1891, which means he received the title "Sir" from the Queen.
In 1892, he went back to England for a break and did not return to Singapore. Later, he became the Chief Justice of British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1895. He held this position until 1898.
After British Guiana, he was appointed Chief Judge of the British Supreme Consular Court in the Ottoman Empire. This court handled legal matters for British citizens living in the Ottoman Empire. In 1900, his title was changed to Chief Judge of the Supreme Consular Court for the Dominions of the Sublime Ottoman Porte. "The Porte" was another name for the government of the Ottoman Empire.
Retirement and Later Life
Sir Edward O'Malley retired from his legal career in 1903. Even after retiring, he continued to be active. In 1909, he was asked to be a Royal Commissioner. This meant he was part of a special group that looked into the conditions and resources of Mauritius, an island nation.
He also tried to enter politics in England. He ran for a seat in Parliament several times as a Liberal candidate, but he was not successful in winning any elections.
His Death
Sir Edward O'Malley passed away in 1932 at the age of 90. He died at his home, Denton House, in Cuddesdon, Oxfordshire, England. He was buried in Cuddesdon. His sons placed a memorial for him and his father at Murrisk Abbey in County Mayo, Ireland, where his family originally came from.
