William Norris (judge)

For other people named William Norris, see William Norris (disambiguation).

Sir William Norris (6 July 1795 – 7 September 1859) was the seventh Chief Justice of Ceylon and seventh Advocate Fiscal of Ceylon.

Sir William Norris
7th Chief Justice of Ceylon
In office 27 April 1836 – 1837
Appointed by	Robert Wilmot-Horton
Preceded by	Charles Marshall
Succeeded by	Anthony Oliphant
Puisne Justice of the Supreme Court of Ceylon
In office 1834 – 27 April 1836
7th Advocate Fiscal of Ceylon
In office 28 February 1829 – 1833
Preceded by	Henry Matthews
Succeeded by	William Ogle Carr
Personal details
Born	7 July 1795[1] London, England[2]
Died	7 September 1859 (aged 64)[3] Ashurst Lodge, Sunningdale, Berkshire, England
Spouse	Fearne Kinnear ​ (m. 1829)​
Children	2, including William Edward Norris

He was born in London, the son of William Norris, who was President of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1824, and his wife, Hannah Phillips. He was baptised in Bray, Berkshire at two weeks old.^[1] He studied law at the Middle Temple and was called to the bar in 1827. He moved to India in 1829 to practice there.

Sir William Norris's bungalow, in Penang in 1844

He was knighted by letters .patent in 1835 and appointed a puisne judge in Ceylon.^[4] He was promoted to Chief Justice of Ceylon on 27 April 1836, succeeding Charles Marshall, holding the post until 1837. He was succeeded by Anthony Oliphant.^[5][6] Norris was appointed despite William Rough having served on the bench since 1831, as acting puisne justice, senior puisne justice and as acting chief justice.^[7]

His son was the author William Edward Norris. His daughter Anne Grace Norris married the future Governor Arthur Havelock.^[7]