Fortunatus Dwarris facts for kids

Sir Fortunatus William Lilley Dwarris (born 1786, died 1860) was an English lawyer and writer. He was known for his work on laws in the West Indies and for his writings on various topics, including the gradual end of slavery.

Early Life and Education

Fortunatus Dwarris was born in Jamaica on October 23, 1786. He was the oldest son of William Dwarris and Sarah Smith. Even though he inherited land in Jamaica, he moved from the island when he was very young.

He attended Rugby School starting in 1801. Later, he studied at University College, Oxford, and earned his degree in 1808. He became a lawyer, or was "called to the bar", at the Middle Temple in London in 1811.

Career and Public Service

Because of his family's connection to Jamaica, Dwarris was chosen in 1822 to be part of a special group. This group was tasked with looking into the laws in the West Indies colonies. His report from this work was very important. It even led to a new law being passed by the government. For his efforts, he was made a knight on May 2, 1838, earning the title "Sir".

Sir Fortunatus Dwarris held several other important positions. He helped examine local governments as part of a commission. He also worked as a master in the Queen's Bench, which was a high court. He was a legal advisor for Newcastle-under-Lyme and for the Board of Health. In 1850, he became a "bencher" at the Middle Temple, which is a senior position among lawyers, and later its treasurer in 1859.

Dwarris was also a member of several important academic groups. He was a Fellow of the Royal Society, which is a group for top scientists. He was also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London, focusing on history and old objects. He was a vice-president of the Archæological Association and a member of the Archæological Institute. In 1775, he was elected to the American Philosophical Society, a famous American group for learning.

Sir Fortunatus Dwarris passed away in London on May 20, 1860. He was buried in Brookwood Cemetery. His wife, Alicia, had died a few years earlier in 1856 and was buried in the same cemetery.

Published Works

Sir Fortunatus Dwarris wrote many books and articles. Here are some of his notable works:

• Reports on West Indies Justice (1827): This book summarized his findings from his work as a commissioner. It looked at how civil and criminal justice was managed in the West Indies.
• The West India Question (1828): In this book, Dwarris argued for improving the lives of enslaved people. He also supported the idea of ending slavery gradually. He shared these views in a long letter he wrote from Barbados in 1823.
• A General Treatise on Statutes (1830–1831): This was a major legal book about laws. It became a very important reference for lawyers and judges. Later editions were published, including one in the United States.
• Alberic, Consul of Rome (1832): This was a historical play he wrote.
• Railway Results, or the Gauge Deliverance (1845): This was a short play or sketch that made fun of the excitement around railways at the time.
• Authorship of Junius (1850): In this privately printed work, Dwarris shared his ideas about who wrote the famous "Letters of Junius". These letters were a mystery because the author used a fake name. Dwarris believed several people wrote them, with Sir Philip Francis being the main writer.
• Letter to the Royal Society of Antiquaries (1852): This was a private letter where he suggested ways to make the society better. He thought they should lower membership fees and be more active.
• Letter to the Lord Chancellor (1853): This letter discussed his ideas for making laws clearer and easier to understand.

He also wrote articles for magazines like the Journal of the British Archaeological Association and Archæologia.

Family Life

On February 28, 1811, Fortunatus Dwarris married Alicia Brereton. Alicia was the daughter of Robert Brereton, who was an army captain. They had a large family with four sons and two daughters.