Page:A catalogue of notable Middle Templars, with brief biographical notices.djvu/246

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Shrewsbury — Slack.

SHREWSBURY, EARL OF. See TALBOT, GEORGE.


SIMON, Sir JOHN.
Serjeant-at-Law.
1818—1897.

Admitted 29 October, 1839.

Only son of Isaac Simon, merchant, of Montego Bay, Jamaica, where he was born 9 Dec. 1818. He studied at University College, and graduated LL.B. at London University in 1841. He was called to the Bar 14 Nov. 1842, being the second instance on record of a Jew admitted to the Bar. He practised for some time in Jamaica, but came to England in 1845, and in 1858 was engaged in the defence of Simon Bernard, for complicity in the attempt to assassinate Napoleon III. In 1864 he became Serjeant-at-Law, and in 1868 was returned to Parliament for Dewsbury. In 1886 he was knighted. He died in London, 4 June, 1897.


SIRR, HENRY CHARLES.
1807—1872.

Admitted 7 May, 1830.

Youngest son of Henry Charles Sirr of Dublin (Town Major). He was called to the Bar 22 Nov. 1833, and passed to Lincoln's Inn on 17 Nov. 1836. He became successively British Consul at Hong Kong (1843) and Queen's Advocate in Ceylon. His connection with those countries led to his publication of two interesting works upon them and their history and government—China, and the Chinese in 1849, and Ceylon, and the Cingalese, in 1850. He died in 1872.


SKENE, Sir JOHN, LORD CURRIEHILL.
Scotch Lawyer.
About 1543—1617.

Admitted 27 February, 1604-5.

Sixth son of James Skene of Watercorse and Rainnie, Aberdeenshire. He is described on the Register as "John Skeenes, Miles, magister sive Custos Rotulorum Domini Regis in Scotia." If born in 1543, as is supposed, he was upwards of sixty years of age when admitted, doubtless causâ honoris, to the Middle Temple. He died in 1617.

He is known as the author of the following works: The Laws and Acts of Parliament … of Scotland (1597); Regiam Majestatem Scotice, sive Veteres Leges et Constitutiones collectæ et illustratæ, 3 parts (1609); De Verborum Significatione (1599); A Survey of the City of Aberdeen, by Philopoliteius (1685).


SLACK, HENRY JAMES.
Journalist.
1818—1896.

Admitted 17 April, 1850.

Youngest son of Joseph Slack of the City of London (cloth merchant). Early in life he was engaged in business, but in 1846 took up journalism and became editor and proprietor of the Atlas in 1852. He also wrote for the The Weekly Times and founded The Intellectual Observer. He was called to the Bar 17 Nov. 1853. Amongst his published works were a treatise on aesthetic subjects, entitled The Ministry of the Beautiful (1850), and a disquisition on The Philosophy of Progress in Human Affairs (1860). In politics he was an advanced Liberal, and in religion a disciple of William Johnson Fox, whose works he assisted in editing in 12 vols. 1865—8. He died 16 June, 1896.