Francis Taylor, 1st Baron Maenan
Encyclopedia
William Francis Kyffin Taylor, 1st Baron Maenan GBE
, KC, DL
, JP
(9 July 1854 – 22 September 1951), was a prominent English barrister and judge.
. Two of his brothers were notable local politicians: Brigadier-General Gerald Kyffin-Taylor
, MP for Kirkdale, and Austin Kyffin Taylor
, MP for East Toxteth.
in 1895 and holding the office of Presiding Judge of the Court of Passage between 1903 and 1948. Other offices he held included Justice of the Peace
for Shropshire
, Deputy Lieutenant
of Shropshire, Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for Shropshire, Recorder
of Bolton
in 1901, Bencher
of the Inner Temple
in 1905, Judge of Appeal for the Isle of Man
between 1918 and 1921,Vice-President of the War Compensation Court between 1920 and 1921 and Treasurer of the Inner Temple in 1926. He retired from the bench in 1948, aged 95 and only three years before his death, making him one of the oldest serving judges in Great Britain.
Taylor was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(KBE) in 1918, and promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GBE) in 1929. For his services to the judiciary he was raised to the peerage as Baron Maenan, of Ellesmere in the County of Shropshire
, on 29 June 1948, then aged 93 and the oldest person ever to be made a peer.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, KC, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
, JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(9 July 1854 – 22 September 1951), was a prominent English barrister and judge.
Background and education
Taylor was the son of the Venerable William Francis Taylor, Archdeacon of Liverpool. He was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, educated at Liverpool College and later attending Exeter College, OxfordExeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
. Two of his brothers were notable local politicians: Brigadier-General Gerald Kyffin-Taylor
Gerald Kyffin-Taylor
Brigadier-General Gerald Kyffin-Taylor was a British soldier and politician.His brothers included William Kyffin-Taylor, 1st Baron Maenan, and Austin Taylor MP....
, MP for Kirkdale, and Austin Kyffin Taylor
Austin Taylor (British politician)
Austin Taylor was a British Conservative Party politician.He was elected as Member of Parliament for Liverpool East Toxteth at a by-election in November 1902 following the resignation of the Conservative MP Augustus Frederick Warr...
, MP for East Toxteth.
Legal and judicial career
Taylor's legal career was one of prestige, becoming a Q.C.Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1895 and holding the office of Presiding Judge of the Court of Passage between 1903 and 1948. Other offices he held included Justice of the Peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
for Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Shropshire, Chairman of the Quarter Sessions for Shropshire, Recorder
Recorder (judge)
A Recorder is a judicial officer in England and Wales. It now refers to two quite different appointments. The ancient Recorderships of England and Wales now form part of a system of Honorary Recorderships which are filled by the most senior full-time circuit judges...
of Bolton
Bolton
Bolton is a town in Greater Manchester, in the North West of England. Close to the West Pennine Moors, it is north west of the city of Manchester. Bolton is surrounded by several smaller towns and villages which together form the Metropolitan Borough of Bolton, of which Bolton is the...
in 1901, Bencher
Bencher
A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher can be elected while still a barrister , in recognition of the contribution that the barrister has made to the life of the Inn or to the law...
of the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
in 1905, Judge of Appeal for the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
between 1918 and 1921,Vice-President of the War Compensation Court between 1920 and 1921 and Treasurer of the Inner Temple in 1926. He retired from the bench in 1948, aged 95 and only three years before his death, making him one of the oldest serving judges in Great Britain.
Taylor was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(KBE) in 1918, and promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GBE) in 1929. For his services to the judiciary he was raised to the peerage as Baron Maenan, of Ellesmere in the County of Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, on 29 June 1948, then aged 93 and the oldest person ever to be made a peer.