Montague Shearman
Encyclopedia
Sir Montague Shearman was an English
judge and athlete. He is most notable as co-founder of the Amateur Athletics Association in 1880.
, from Wimbledon
, Surrey
and his wife Mary née Catty. He was educated at Merchant Taylors School
in the City of London
, where he excelled at football, captaining the first XV in 1874–1875. He received a scholarship
to St John's College, Oxford
, graduating with a first class degree in Classical Moderations
and in Literae Humaniores
. He was a noted athlete, winning the one hundred yards race at the Oxford and Cambridge University Games in 1876, and was president of the Oxford University Athletics Club in 1878. He was also an accomplished rugby
player, obtaining his "blue" as a forward and three-quarter in the university team
from 1878 – 1880. In 1884 he married Louise Long of New York
, and they had two sons.
as president of the AAA.
He was also a member of the Wanderers
amateur football club.
as a student in 1877, and was called to the bar
in 1881. He practised on the Midland Circuit for twenty-two years before "taking silk" to become a king's counsel
in 1903. He was a specialist in common law
and commercial cases.
, Lord Haldane
, and was knighted
. Along with Lord Hardinge
and Sir Mackenzie Chalmers
he conducted an official inquiry into the origin and causes of the "Sinn Fein Rebellion"
of 1916.
Notable cases at which Shearman presided were the trial of Harold Greenwood
at Carmarthen
in 1920, and of Bywaters and Thompson
and of the murderers of General Henry Wilson at the Central Criminal Court
in 1922.
His role in the Bywaters–Thompson trial, though, has been subject to controversy with regard to the verdict of guilty for Edith Thompson. In his memoirs Arthur Beverley Baxter, the well known journalist and politician, Conservative member of Parliament 1935-1964, referred to it as only being “in a nightmare that judicial killing was ever countenanced by a supposedly civilised people” (Strange Street, 1935, p. 154ff )
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
judge and athlete. He is most notable as co-founder of the Amateur Athletics Association in 1880.
Early life
Shearman was the second son of Montagu Shearman, a solicitorSolicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, from Wimbledon
Wimbledon, London
Wimbledon is a district in the south west area of London, England, located south of Wandsworth, and east of Kingston upon Thames. It is situated within Greater London. It is home to the Wimbledon Tennis Championships and New Wimbledon Theatre, and contains Wimbledon Common, one of the largest areas...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
and his wife Mary née Catty. He was educated at Merchant Taylors School
Merchant Taylors' School, Northwood
Merchant Taylors' School is a British independent day school for boys, originally located in the City of London. Since 1933 it has been located at Sandy Lodge in the Three Rivers district of Hertfordshire ....
in the City of London
City of London
The City of London is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of...
, where he excelled at football, captaining the first XV in 1874–1875. He received a scholarship
Scholarship
A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further education. Scholarships are awarded on various criteria usually reflecting the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award.-Types:...
to St John's College, Oxford
St John's College, Oxford
__FORCETOC__St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Oxford, one of the larger Oxford colleges with approximately 390 undergraduates, 200 postgraduates and over 100 academic staff. It was founded by Sir Thomas White, a merchant, in 1555, whose heart is buried in the chapel of...
, graduating with a first class degree in Classical Moderations
Honour Moderations
Honour Moderations are a first set of examinations at Oxford University in England during the first part of the degree course for some courses ....
and in Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores
Literae Humaniores is the name given to an undergraduate course focused on Classics at Oxford and some other universities.The Latin name means literally "more humane letters", but is perhaps better rendered as "Advanced Studies", since humaniores has the sense of "more refined" or "more learned",...
. He was a noted athlete, winning the one hundred yards race at the Oxford and Cambridge University Games in 1876, and was president of the Oxford University Athletics Club in 1878. He was also an accomplished rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
player, obtaining his "blue" as a forward and three-quarter in the university team
Oxford University RFC
The Oxford University Rugby Football Club is the rugby union club of the University of Oxford. The club contests The Varsity Match every year against Cambridge University at Twickenham.-History:...
from 1878 – 1880. In 1884 he married Louise Long of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and they had two sons.
Amateur Athletics Association
Shearman was one of the founder members of the association, and served as the first honorary secretary from 1880 to 1883, then as vice-president until 1910. In that year he succeeded Lord AlverstoneRichard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone
Richard Everard Webster, 1st Viscount Alverstone, GCMG, QC was a British barrister, politician and judge who served in many high political and judicial offices.-Background and education:...
as president of the AAA.
He was also a member of the Wanderers
Wanderers F.C.
Wanderers Football Club is an English amateur football club, based in London, that plays in the Surrey South Eastern Combination. Founded as Forest Football Club in 1859, the club changed its name to Wanderers in 1864....
amateur football club.
Legal career
Shearman entered the Inner TempleInner 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...
as a student in 1877, and was called to the bar
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in 1881. He practised on the Midland Circuit for twenty-two years before "taking silk" to become a king's counsel
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 1903. He was a specialist in common law
Common law
Common law is law developed by judges through decisions of courts and similar tribunals rather than through legislative statutes or executive branch action...
and commercial cases.
Judicial career
In 1914 Shearman was appointed a judge of the King's Bench Division by the lord chancellorLord Chancellor
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom. He is the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State, ranking only after the Lord High Steward. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the Sovereign...
, Lord Haldane
Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane
Richard Burdon Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane KT, OM, PC, KC, FRS, FBA, FSA , was an influential British Liberal Imperialist and later Labour politician, lawyer and philosopher. He was Secretary of State for War between 1905 and 1912 during which time the "Haldane Reforms" were implemented...
, and was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
. Along with Lord Hardinge
Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst
Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, was a British diplomat and statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916.-Background and education:...
and Sir Mackenzie Chalmers
Mackenzie Dalzell Chalmers
Sir Mackenzie Dalzell Chalmers KCB CSI , 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 from 1903 to 1908.His mother was Matilda,...
he conducted an official inquiry into the origin and causes of the "Sinn Fein Rebellion"
Easter Rising
The Easter Rising was an insurrection staged in Ireland during Easter Week, 1916. The Rising was mounted by Irish republicans with the aims of ending British rule in Ireland and establishing the Irish Republic at a time when the British Empire was heavily engaged in the First World War...
of 1916.
Notable cases at which Shearman presided were the trial of Harold Greenwood
Harold Greenwood (solicitor)
Harold Greenwood was an English solicitor who was accused and acquitted of murdering his wife by arsenic poisoning. He was tried at Carmarthen Assizes in 1920 and defended by Edward Marshall Hall; his case is a rare example of a legal professional being charged with murder.-Facts:Harold Greenwood,...
at Carmarthen
Carmarthen
Carmarthen is a community in, and the county town of, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is sited on the River Towy north of its mouth at Carmarthen Bay. In 2001, the population was 14,648....
in 1920, and of Bywaters and Thompson
Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters
Edith Jessie Thompson and Frederick Edward Francis Bywaters were a British couple who were executed for the murder of Thompson’s husband Percy...
and of the murderers of General Henry Wilson at the Central Criminal Court
Old Bailey
The Central Criminal Court in England and Wales, commonly known as the Old Bailey from the street in which it stands, is a court building in central London, one of a number of buildings housing the Crown Court...
in 1922.
His role in the Bywaters–Thompson trial, though, has been subject to controversy with regard to the verdict of guilty for Edith Thompson. In his memoirs Arthur Beverley Baxter, the well known journalist and politician, Conservative member of Parliament 1935-1964, referred to it as only being “in a nightmare that judicial killing was ever countenanced by a supposedly civilised people” (Strange Street, 1935, p. 154ff )
Art collector
Somewhat less known is his collecting of temporary art. The Montague Shearman Collection contains such famous painters as Picasso, Dali, Matisse, Utrillo, Sisley, Pissarro, Monet, Renoir, Lautrec, Rowlandson and many others. As the Burlington Magazine noted it focusses on "themes with a clear relationship to comfortable middle-class life .. the satirical element never becoming obtrusive, and in the Lautrec having a distinctly moralising tendency. One wonders whether there was a reason in Shearman's taste for preferring a Renoir landscape to a figure subject - did he dislike Renoir's fleshy and voluptuous types ? - and one's suspicions are strengthened on noticing that the little group of Etty nude-studies are all back-views !" (The Burlington Magazine, Vol. 76, No. 446, May 1940, p. 165f)Resignation and death
In 1925 Shearman became seriously ill, partly due to an old injury acquired on the football field. Following a medical operation, his speech was impaired, although he returned to work. He retired in October 1929. He died at his London residence, Leigh House, 6 Eaton Gate, in January 1930, aged 72.Books
- Football: its History for Five Centuries (1885) with J.E. Vincent This book ran to five editions,and according to Oxford Dictionary of National Biography "stood the test of time for its comprehensiveness and for the quality of its writing".