James Charles Mathew facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir James Charles Mathew
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|---|---|
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| Lord Justice of Appeal | |
| In office 19 October 1901 – 25 January 1906 |
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| Justice of the High Court | |
| In office 3 March 1881 – 19 October 1901 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | Lehenagh House, County Cork 10 July 1830 |
| Died | 9 November 1908 (aged 78) London |
| Spouse |
Elizabeth Biron
(m. 1861) |
| Children | 5 |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin |
Sir James Charles Mathew (born 10 July 1830 – died 9 November 1908) was an important judge from Ireland. He was born in Cork, Ireland, into a Catholic family. He studied at Trinity College Dublin, which was mostly for Protestants at the time. After college, he became a lawyer in England.
In 1881, even though he was still a junior lawyer (meaning he hadn't yet become a senior lawyer called a Queen's Counsel), he was made a judge in the High Court of Justice. He worked in the Queen's Bench Division of this court. People said he was the best judge for certain types of trials during his time.
Later, in 1901, he was promoted to the Court of Appeal. He had to leave his job as a judge in 1905 because of health problems. Sir James Charles Mathew was also key in starting the Commercial List in 1895. This was the first version of today's Commercial Court, and he was its first judge.
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Early Life and Education
James Charles Mathew was born in Cork, Ireland, on 10 July 1830. He was the oldest son of Charles Mathew and Mary Hackett. His uncle was Father Theobald Mathew, who worked to stop people from drinking too much alcohol.
Because of his uncle, James went to Trinity College Dublin when he was fifteen. This was unusual for a Catholic family at that time. He did very well there, graduating with top honors in 1850.
After college, he started studying law at Lincoln's Inn in London in 1851. He became a lawyer in 1851.
Career as a Lawyer
For about ten years, James Mathew's law career grew slowly. During this time, he used his skills in debating at the Hardwicke Society, which he helped to start. His humor and sharp wit also made him popular at social events.
When he finally started getting more cases, he was very good at understanding legal rules and procedures. He was quick to find the main points in a case and didn't like unnecessary legal details. He was especially in demand for big business cases in London.
Even though he handled many important cases, Mathew chose not to become a Queen's Counsel (QC), which is a senior lawyer. He might have felt his voice was not strong enough for leading cases. In 1873, he worked as a lawyer for the government in the famous Tichborne case.
Becoming a Judge
In March 1881, James Mathew became a judge in the Queen's Bench Division and was given the title of Knight. At first, he was sometimes too quick to speak and impatient with slow people. But these issues improved over time. He became known as the best judge for certain types of trials.
Even though he didn't have much experience with criminal cases, he showed good judgment and common sense. People noticed he sometimes leaned a little towards the person accused. But he is best remembered for creating the Commercial Court. He had strong ideas about legal costs and how court cases should be run.
Starting the Commercial Court
In 1895, Judge Mathew convinced other judges to create a special court for business cases. This court would have the same judge in charge all the time, and that judge would have freedom to set the rules. James Mathew was the first judge in charge of this new court.
He made the process much simpler. He got rid of long written statements and focused on the main issues. He didn't allow delays, making trials happen quickly. His decisions were clear and to the point, which business people really liked.
Mathew was a very active and modern-thinking person. He felt that some old court procedures were too slow. When he sometimes worked as a judge in other courts, he tried to bring in his new ideas. However, these changes were not always welcomed by lawyers in those courts.
Royal Commission Work
In 1892, when the Liberal Party came into power, James Mathew was chosen to lead a special group called a royal commission. This group was to look into the cases of tenants who had been forced out of their homes in Ireland.
However, some people, especially landlords, didn't trust him. This was because he supported Irish self-rule and his son-in-law, John Dillon, was a leading Irish politician. On the first day, there was a big argument between Mathew and another lawyer, Edward Carson. Mathew refused to let lawyers question witnesses in the usual way. Carson called the inquiry "a sham." Mathew said this was "disgraceful."
Lawyers were told to leave, and two other members of the commission resigned. Landlords refused to take part anymore. However, the commission continued its work and made recommendations. Some of these ideas were later used in a law about land in Ireland in 1903.
Court of Appeal and Later Life
Perhaps because of this event, James Mathew was not promoted to the Court of Appeal until 1901. When he joined the Court of Appeal, he continued to show his sharp mind and common sense. He didn't like long arguments or too many old legal examples. He called them the "old umbrellas of the law."
On 6 December 1905, he had a stroke at the Athenæum Club. He resigned the next day. He passed away in London on 9 November 1908 and was buried in Cork, Ireland.
Personal Qualities
James Mathew was a good example of someone from the south of Ireland. He was a good speaker, full of humor, and enjoyed the lighter side of life. He was a strong supporter of change and a devoted Catholic. Yet, he got along well with people who had very different religious and political views. He was a kind and loyal friend.
Family Life
On 26 December 1861, James Mathew married Elizabeth Biron. She was the daughter of a vicar from Lympne, England. They had two sons and three daughters. Elizabeth lived longer than him.
His oldest daughter, Elizabeth, married the Irish politician John Dillon in 1895. Their son, James Matthew Dillon, also became a well-known Irish politician.
Both of Mathew's sons became lawyers. His elder son, Theobald Mathew, was known for his legal jokes. His younger son, Charles Mathew, was briefly a Member of Parliament. Charles Mathew's son, Sir Theobald Mathew, held a very important legal job as the longest-serving Director of Public Prosecutions.
