William Hackett (judge)

Sir William Bartholomew Hackett (1824 – 17 May 1877) was an Irish judge who was the second Chief Justice of Fiji and the 12th Chief Justice of Ceylon.^[1]

Sir William Hackett
2nd Chief Justice of Fiji
In office 1875–1876
Preceded by	Sir Charles St Julian
Succeeded by	Sir John Gorrie
12th Chief Justice of Ceylon
In office 3 February 1877 – 1877
Appointed by	William Henry Gregory
Preceded by	Edward Shepherd Creasy
Succeeded by	John Budd Phear
Personal details
Born	1824 Cork County Cork, Ireland
Died	17 May 1877 (aged 52–53) Colombo, British Colony of Ceylon
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin

He was born in Cork, Ireland, the son of Bartholomew Hackett. He was educated at Stonyhurst College and Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1846.^[2]

He became a member of the Irish Bar on the Munster circuit, was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1851 and practiced mainly at the Chancery Bar. In October 1861, he was appointed Queen's Advocate in Gold Coast acting as Chief Justice until confirmed in the position in April 1863. The following year, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Gold Coast. In 1866, he moved to south-east Asia to be Recorder of the Prince of Wales's Island (Penang Island).^[3] He was knighted on his appointment as Recorder, and in 1871, was appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements.^[2]

After heading up the courts as Chief Justice of Fiji from 1875 to 1876, he was appointed Chief Justice of Ceylon on 3 February 1877, to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Edward Shepherd Creasy. He remained Chief Justice for only a few months as he died in 1877 of cholera while in office. He was succeeded by Sir John Budd Phear.^[4][5][6]