Richard Garth

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Sir Richard Garth, 1875
Sir Richard Garth, 1875

Sir Richard Garth, PC, QC (11 May 1820–23 March 1903) was Member of Parliament for Guildford from 1866 to 1868 and Chief Justice of Bengal from 1875 to 1886.

Garth was born Richard Lowndes at Lasham, Hampshire, the son of the Reverend Richard Lowndes (1790–1862) and his wife Mary Lowndes (nee Douglas)[1]. Rev. Lowndes was, through his mother, the grandson of Richard Garth (d. 1787)[2], Lord of the Manor of Morden, Surrey (now south-west London). On the death of his mother, Rev. Lowndes inherited the Manor and, in accordance with the requirements of his grandfather's will, he changed his and his family's surname to Garth by royal licence in 1837[3].

Garth attended Christ Church College at the University of Oxford, finding time to play cricket for the University as well as Hampshire and Surrey between 1839 and 1844[4]. He became a barrister in Lincoln's Inn and in 1847 married his cousin Clara Lowndes[1] (1824–1903)[5].

The Garths had seven children[1]:

  • Richard Garth, b. 1848
  • George Douglas Garth, 1852–1900
  • William Garth, b. 1854
  • Charles Garth, b. 1870
  • Mary Eliza Garth, d.1932
  • Helen Frances Garth
  • Evelyn Selina Garth

When his father died in 1862, Garth inherited the manor and its estate at Morden Hall. Garth sold the manor in about 1872[6]. He was also instrumental in the early planning of parts of Raynes Park[7] on land he owned in the neighbouring parish of Merton.

On 23 July 1866, Garth was made a Queen's Counsel[8] and at a by-election on 17 December 1866, he became one of the two members of parliament for Guildford, Surrey[9], replacing Sir William Bovill. His period as an MP ended at the 1868 general election when, as a consequence of the 1867 Reform Act, Guildford's second parliamentary seat was abolished.

On 2 March 1875, Garth was made Chief Justice of Bengal[10] and received a knighthood on 13 May 1875[11]. He remained in the post at Fort William, Calcutta until 26 February 1886[12].

On 21 February 1888, Garth was appointed a Privy Counsellor[13]. He died on 23 March 1903 at 10 Cheniston Gardens, Kensington[14].

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c www.william1.co.uk - Descendants of William the Conqueror
  2. ^ 'Morden', The Environs of London: Volume 1: County of Surrey (1792), pp. 361-63
  3. ^ London Gazette: no. 19480, page 876, 1827-03-31. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  4. ^ Cricket Archive - Richard Garth
  5. ^ www.FreeBMD.org.uk - death record of Clara Garth
  6. ^ 'Parishes: Morden', A History of the County of Surrey: Volume 4 (1912), pp. 235-37.
  7. ^ Raynes Park & West Barnes Residents' Association - history
  8. ^ London Gazette: no. 23143, page 4165, 1866-07-24. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  9. ^ London Gazette: no. 23201, page 7056, 1866-12-21. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  10. ^ London Gazette: no. 24187, page 1476, 1875-03-05. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  11. ^ London Gazette: no. 24209, page 2681, 1875-05-18. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  12. ^ London Gazette: no. 25563, page 965, 1886-02-26. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  13. ^ London Gazette: no. 25790, page 1218, 1888-02-24. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.
  14. ^ London Gazette: no. 27562, page 3673, 1903-06-09. Retrieved on 2007-11-24.


Parliament of the United Kingdom
Preceded by
Sir William Bovill		 Member of Parliament for Guildford
(one of two)
1866–1868		 Succeeded by
Second seat abolished
Legal offices
Preceded by
Sir Richard Couch		 Chief Justice of Bengal
1875–1886		 Succeeded by
Sir William Comer Petheram