Douglas Straight
Encyclopedia
Sir Douglas Straight was an English
lawyer, Member of Parliament
, judge and journalist.
Straight was born in London and was educated at Harrow School
.
Until 1865 he engaged in journalism, but then became a lawyer and soon developed an extensive practice, especially at the Central Criminal Court, London. During this time, Straight still maintained his literary interests. In 1867, he wrote an anonymous memoir of his time at Harrow entitled Harrow Recollections. By an Old Harrovian and signed the preface with the name Sidney Daryl. This was a pseudonym he would use for a number of publications in this era. He wrote plays and stories and about various topics that interested him. In 1868, for instance, he compiled Routledge's Handbook of Quoits and Bowls.
From 1870 until 1874 Straight was a member of the House of Commons
as Conservative
Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury
. In 1879 he was made a judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
in India. To mark this appointment Vanity Fair caricatured him: The Hon Mr Justice Straight, the new Judge. After thirteen years of judicial service abroad he was knighted soon after his return from India in 1892.
Four years later Straight began work again as a journalist, as joint editor of the Pall Mall Magazine (1893–1896) and then editor of the Pall Mall Gazette
(from 1896). He was a well known society personage during this time and as an editor he corresponded with many of the famous literary names of the day. Straight retired "from everything except the task of trying to enjoy himself" in 1909, and died in London five years later.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lawyer, Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, judge and journalist.
Straight was born in London and was educated at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
.
Until 1865 he engaged in journalism, but then became a lawyer and soon developed an extensive practice, especially at the Central Criminal Court, London. During this time, Straight still maintained his literary interests. In 1867, he wrote an anonymous memoir of his time at Harrow entitled Harrow Recollections. By an Old Harrovian and signed the preface with the name Sidney Daryl. This was a pseudonym he would use for a number of publications in this era. He wrote plays and stories and about various topics that interested him. In 1868, for instance, he compiled Routledge's Handbook of Quoits and Bowls.
From 1870 until 1874 Straight was a member of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
as Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury (UK Parliament constituency)
Shrewsbury was a parliamentary constituency in England, centred on the town of Shrewsbury in Shropshire.It was founded in 1290 as parliamentary borough, returning two members to the House of Commons of England until 1707, then of the House of Commons of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800, and of the...
. In 1879 he was made a judge of the High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
Allahabad
Allahabad , or Settled by God in Persian, is a major city of India and is one of the main holy cities of Hinduism. It was renamed by the Mughals from the ancient name of Prayaga , and is by some accounts the second-oldest city in India. It is located in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh,...
in India. To mark this appointment Vanity Fair caricatured him: The Hon Mr Justice Straight, the new Judge. After thirteen years of judicial service abroad he was knighted soon after his return from India in 1892.
Four years later Straight began work again as a journalist, as joint editor of the Pall Mall Magazine (1893–1896) and then editor of the Pall Mall Gazette
Pall Mall Gazette
The Pall Mall Gazette was an evening newspaper founded in London on 7 February 1865 by George Murray Smith; its first editor was Frederick Greenwood...
(from 1896). He was a well known society personage during this time and as an editor he corresponded with many of the famous literary names of the day. Straight retired "from everything except the task of trying to enjoy himself" in 1909, and died in London five years later.