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William SheeAnglo-Irish politician, lawyer and judge
Date of Birth: 24.06.1804
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
Early Life and Education
William Shee was born on June 24, 1804, in Finchley, Middlesex, England. His father, Joseph Shee, was a merchant from Ireland, and his mother was Teresa Darell. William's cousin was Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman.
He attended a school for French refugees in London, where he was taught by the priest and writer Hughes Felicité-Robert de Lamennais. In 1818, William joined St Cuthbert's College as a pupil with Wiseman. He also studied at Edinburgh University, where he became a member of The Speculative Society.
Legal and Political Career
In 1823, Shee became a pupil of English lawyer Thomas Chitty at Lincoln's Inn. He was called to the bar in 1828 and embarked on a successful career as a barrister. In 1840, he became a Queen's Counsel and continued to rise through the ranks.
In 1837, Shee married Mary Gordon. They had several children, including George Darell Shee and Henry Gordon Shee, who both followed their father into law.
Shee gained prominence for his involvement in several high-profile cases, including the prosecution of William Roupell, a Member of Parliament and notorious fraudster, and the unsuccessful defense of poisoner William Palmer in 1856.
In addition to his legal career, Shee was engaged in politics. He was first elected to Parliament in 1852 as the Member for County Kilkenny.
Judicial Appointments
On December 19, 1863, Shee was appointed as a judge of the Queen's Bench. He was knighted the following year. He was the first Catholic judge in England and Wales since the Reformation.
Literary Contributions
Shee was also an editor of several legal publications.Death
William Shee died of an apoplectic stroke at his home in London in 1868.
