took silk in 1882. Attaching himself at first to the court of Mr. Justice Fry, he took his seat before Mr. Justice North when Fry went to the Court of Appeal in 1883. He proved so successful as a leader that in 1893 he joined the small band of ‘specials’ of which (Sir) John Rigby and Horace (afterwards Lord) Davey were also members. In this distinguished company he held his own, and was constantly employed in heavy cases both in the Chancery division and before the appellate tribunals. Of unimpressive appearance, and without the vigour of Rigby or the subtlety of Davey, Cozens-Hardy had industry, knowledge, and lucidity of speech, and judges listened to him with respect. Kindly and courteous to all, his popularity with the practising members of the profession was shown by his election as chairman of the general council of the bar. Amongst the important cases in which he appeared as counsel were Sheffield v. London Joint Stock Bank (1888, the right of a bank to sell securities deposited by a borrower with limited authority), Bradford Corporation v. Pickles (1895, the effect of a malicious motive upon the lawful use of property), Trego v. Hunt (1896, the right of the seller of a business to canvass his old customers), and Attorney-General v. Beech (1899, the liability of a remainder-man who has bought a life interest to pay estate duty).
At the general election of 1885 Cozens-Hardy was elected member of parliament for North Norfolk in the liberal interest, and continued to sit for the constituency till his elevation to the bench in 1899. In the House of Commons, although never a prominent figure, he was a not infrequent speaker. As a rule he confined himself to matters of which he had professional or local knowledge. Such subjects as married women’s property, the winding up of companies, bankruptcy, and the law relating to trustees, he was able to discuss with authority. In 1886, when the liberal party split on the subject of Home Rule for Ireland, Cozens-Hardy remained faithful to Mr. Gladstone.
In 1899 the death of Lord Justice Chitty and the promotion to his place of Sir Robert Romer created a vacancy in the Chancery division. Lord Halsbury, who was not ordinarily predisposed towards political opponents, disregarded Cozens-Hardy’s liberalism, and with the full approval of the profession raised him to the bench. He received the customary knighthood. As a judge Cozens-Hardy showed the industry and care that had marked his work at the bar. His findings of fact were more often criticized than his decisions on points of law. In 1901, on the resignation of Lord Justice Rigby, he became a lord justice of appeal and was sworn of the Privy Council. In March 1907 Cozens-Hardy succeeded Sir Richard Henn Collins (afterwards Lord Collins) as master of the Rolls. In this onerous office he performed his duties with ability and dignity. Appeals under the Workmen’s Compensation Act were numerous, and Cozens-Hardy, although unversed in this branch of the law, dealt with them satisfactorily. His familiarity with equity law and practice made him a strong president of the court when Chancery appeals were being heard. In 1913 he was one of the three commissioners of the great seal during the absence in Canada of the lord chancellor, Lord Haldane, and the following year he was raised to the peerage. For some years he was chairman of the Council of Legal Education; he was also a chairman of quarter-sessions in Norfolk. His health had been failing for many months before his retirement in 1918. He died at Letheringsett Hall 18 June 1920, and was buried at Kensal Green.
Cozens-Hardy married in 1866 Maria (died 1886), daughter of Thomas Hepburn, of Clapham Common, by whom he had two sons and two daughters. He was succeeded as second baron by his eldest son, William Hepburn Cozens-Hardy, K.C., who died in 1924.
A portrait by R. G. Eves is in the possession of the family; there was a caricature in Vanity Fair, 24 January 1901.
[The Times, 19 June 1920; Law Journal, 26 June 1920; personal knowledge.]
CRADOCK, Sir CHRISTOPHER GEORGE FRANCIS MAURICE (1862-1914), admiral, was born 2 July 1862 at Hartforth, Yorkshire, the fourth son of Christopher Cradock, of Hartforth, by his wife, Georgina, daughter of Major Gordon Duff, 92nd Highlanders. Christopher Cradock entered the navy in 1875, and three years later, as midshipman of the Pallas, was present at the British occupation of Cyprus. In 1884, as a sub-lieutenant, he landed with the naval brigade for garrison duties in Upper Egypt and as first lieutenant of the Dolphin, served with the Eastern Sudan field force, being chosen by the governor-general of the Red Sea to act as his aide-de-camp. He subsequently took part in the occupation of Affafit,
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