Men of the Time, eleventh edition/Bramwell (Lord), George William Wilshere

926052Men of the Time, eleventh edition — Bramwell (Lord), George William WilshereThompson Cooper

BRAMWELL (Lord), The Right Hon. Sir George William Wilshere, son of the late Mr. George Bramwell, banker, was born in London, in 1808. In early youth he was placed in his father's counting-house, where he acquired a practical knowledge of the business of banking, which in after years proved of great value to him. Having resolved to try the legal profession, he practised for some time as a pleader, and was, in 1838, called to the bar, and went the Home circuit. He gradually obtained a large business as a lawyer and pleader; in 1851 became a Queen's Counsel, and in 1852 was a member, with Sir J. Jervis, Sir A. Cockburn, Mr. Willes, and Mr. Baron Martin, of the Common Law Procedure Commission, which resulted in the Common Law Procedure Act of 1852. This gave great satisfaction, and Mr. Bramwell was, in 1856, made a Baron of the Exchequer, and received the honour of knighthood. In Oct., 1876, he was made a Judge of the intermediate Court of Appeal, and sworn of the Privy Council. He retired from the bench at the close of the year 1881, when a complimentary banquet, attended by the judges and the principal members of the legal profession, was held in his honour. In Feb., 1882, he was raised to the peerage by the title of Baron Bramwell, of Hever, in the county of Kent.