Sir Mackenzie Dalzell Chalmers KCB CSI (1847–1927), judge and civil servant, was Parliamentary Counsel to the Treasury, a Judge of the County Courts and a Law Member of the Viceroy's Council in India. He was also Permanent Under Secretary of State of the Home Office

Home Office

The Home Office is the United Kingdom government department responsible for immigration control, security, and order. As such it is responsible for the police, UK Border Agency, and the Security Service . It is also in charge of government policy on security-related issues such as drugs,...

 from 1903 to 1908.

His mother was Matilda, daughter of Rev. William Marsh

William Marsh

William Marsh was a British priest in the Church of England and a writer of theological publications, in the 19th century.-Early years:...

. He was educated at King's College London

King's College London

King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...

, and Trinity College, Oxford

Trinity College, Oxford

The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...

.

He is best remembered today as the draftsman of the Bills of Exchange Act 1882

Bills of Exchange Act 1882

The Bills of Exchange Act 1882 is a United Kingdom Act of Parliament concerning bills of exchange....

, and in 1888 of the Sale of Goods Act 1893

Sale of Goods Act 1893

The Sale of Goods Act 1893 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland which regulated contracts in which goods are sold and bought...

. The original Bill was settled by Lord Herschell who introduced it into the House of Lords in 1889, with a view to obtaining criticism of its provisions. The Bill was referred to a Select Committee consisting of Lord Herschell, the Earl of Halsbury

Earl of Halsbury

Earl of Halsbury, in the County of Devon, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1898 for the lawyer and Conservative politician Hardinge Giffard, 1st Baron Halsbury. He was Lord Chancellor of the United Kingdom from 1885 to 1886, 1886 to 1892 and 1895 to 1905...

, Baron Bramwell and Lord Watson

Lord Watson

Lord Watson can refer to:* William Watson, Baron Watson * Mike Watson, Baron Watson of Invergowrie * Alan Watson, Baron Watson of Richmond...

. The 1893 Act was repealed and reenacted as the Sale of Goods Act 1979

Sale of Goods Act 1979

The Sale of Goods Act 1979 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which regulates English contract law and UK commercial law in respect of goods that are sold and bought. The Act consolidates the original Sale of Goods Act 1893 and subsequent legislation, which in turn had codified and...

. Sir Mackenzie is also famous for having drafted the Marine Insurance Act 1906

Marine Insurance Act 1906

The Marine Insurance Act 1906 is a UK Act of Parliament regulating marine insurance. The Act was drafted by Sir Mackenzie Dalzell Chalmers, who had earlier drafted the Sale of Goods Act 1893. The Marine Insurance Act 1906 is of huge significance, as it does not merely govern English Law, but...

which is still in force (but which is expected to be repealed and reenacted in about 2012).

He was made Chief Justice of Gibraltar in 1894.

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