Richard Morgan (Ceylonese judge)

Sir Richard Francis Morgan (21 February 1821 – 27 January 1876)^[1] was a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) lawyer, who served as the 13th Queen's Advocate of Ceylon and acting Chief Justice of Ceylon. He was the first Asian in the British Empire to receive a Knighthood and first Ceylonese to be a member of the Governor's Executive Council and was an unofficial (Burgher) member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. He was the Crown Advocate who prosecuted famed bandit Saradiel.^[2]

Hon. Sir Richard Morgan
Acting Chief Justice of Ceylon
In office 1874–1874
13th Queen's Advocate of Ceylon
In office 1 January 1863 – 1876
Preceded by	Henry Byerley Thomson
Succeeded by	Richard Cayley
Acting Deputy Queen's Advocate of Ceylon
In office 1 May 1862 – 1 January 1863
Acting Queen's Advocate of Ceylon
In office 16 April 1861 – 1 May 1862
In office 19 November 1857 – 1858
Judge of the District Court of Colombo
In office 6 November 1860 – 16 April 1861
In office 1858 – 21 May 1859
In office 1 October 1856 – 1 January 1857
Acting Senior Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Ceylon
In office 1 January 1860 – 6 November 1860
Acting Second Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Ceylon
In office 1 January 1857 – 19 November 1857
Personal details
Born	21 February 1821 Colombo, Ceylon
Died	27 January 1876 (aged 54) Colombo, Ceylon
Nationality	Ceylonese (Sri Lankan)
Residence	Whist Bungalow

Sir Richard was the 11th and youngest child of Owen Richard Morgan, port magistrate of Colombo, and Behrana Lucretea Lourensz. He was educated at the Colombo Academy.^[3][4]

Morgan was knighted in 1874, while serving as Crown Advocate of Ceylon.^[5] He was made acting Chief Justice of Ceylon, after E. S. Creasy had returned to England on sick leave.^[6] His son was Lieutenant Colonel Richard Hillebrand Morgan.

See also

• Whist Bungalow