William Alfred Tilleke facts for kids

William Alfred Goone-Tilleke (1860–1918) was an important lawyer, businessman, and noble from Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) and Siam (now Thailand). He started the famous law firm Tilleke & Gibbins. He also served as a special advisor to the King and was the second Attorney General of Siam from 1912 to 1917. In Siam, he was also known by his noble title, Phraya Attakarnprasiddhi (Thai: พระยาอรรถการประสิทธิ).

Early Life and Education

William Alfred Goone-Tilleke was born into a well-known Sinhalese family in Ceylon. His father, Moses Goonetilleke, was a Chief Mudaliyar (a high-ranking local official) and a justice of the peace (a public official who handles minor legal duties) in the Central Province of Ceylon.

William went to school at St Thomas' College and then studied at the University of Calcutta. After becoming a lawyer in Ceylon, he began his legal work in Kandy. He was also elected to the Kandy Municipal Council in 1885, which means he helped manage the city. Later, he worked as a magistrate, a judge who handles less serious cases in the Municipal Court.

Moving to Siam

In 1890, Tilleke moved to Siam and started a new law practice there. He quickly became well-known.

A Famous Legal Case

In 1894, Tilleke became very famous for a special case. He worked with a Siamese lawyer, Luang Damrong Thammasan, to defend a Siamese governor named Phra Yot Muang Kwang. The governor was accused of a serious crime after the Franco-Siamese War of 1893. This case was heard in a French Court held in Thailand, and there was a lot of pressure from the French. Tilleke presented strong evidence that showed Phra Yot was innocent. All seven judges agreed, and Phra Yot was found "not guilty." This case showed how skilled Tilleke was as a lawyer.

Helping Siam Grow

After this success, Tilleke started working for the Attorney General's Office of Siam in 1897. At the same time, he also helped Siam develop its economy. He invested in new businesses like railways, rubber farms, and factories. For example, he owned the Bagan Rubber Company, which operated in Kelantan, a state that was connected to Siam at the time.

In 1902, he partnered with an Englishman named Ralph Gibbins to create the law firm Tilleke & Gibbins. Ralph Gibbins later became a legal advisor in Siam's Ministry of Justice and a judge on the International Court. Tilleke also helped start the Siam Observer, which was the first daily newspaper in English in Siam.

William Tilleke was a foreign legal advisor to King Chulalongkorn (also known as Rama V). He helped write Siam's Penal Code in 1908, which is a set of laws about crimes and punishments. In 1910, he officially became a citizen of Siam and gave up his British passport. He served as the Attorney General of Siam from 1912 until he passed away in 1917. Because of his great service to Siam, the King gave him the special Thai noble title Maha Ammat Tho Phraya Attakarn Prasiddhi.

Tilleke's Family

William Alfred Goone-Tilleke's family also played important roles in Siam. His brothers included A. F. G. Tilleke (Phya Singhol), who was an Assistant Harbour Master, and Dr. R. E. G. Tillek (Phya Viraj Vejjakich), who was the King's doctor and head of the Vajira Hospital. His nephew, R. F. G. Tilleke, was the editor of the Bangkok Times newspaper.

William Goone-Tilleke's children changed their family name to Kunadilok. His son, Daeng, was a fighter for the Free Thai Movement during World War II, which was a group that resisted the Japanese occupation of Thailand. Tilleke's daughter, Lekha Aphaiwong, made history in 1949 when she became one of the first women to be appointed to the Senate of Thailand (a part of the government). She married Khuang Aphaiwong, who was the prime minister of Thailand three times between 1944 and 1948 and led the Democrat Party.