Sir George Farwell (22 December 1845 – 30 September 1915) was an English judge, noted for trying the ''Taff Vale'' case at the first instance.

Biography

Farwell was born in

Codsall Codsall is a village and civil parish in the South Staffordshire district of Staffordshire, England. It is situated 5 miles northwest of Wolverhampton and 13 miles east-southeast of Telford. It forms part of the boundary of the Staffordshire-W ...

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...

, the second son of Frederick Cooper Farwell, agent to the

Duke of Cleveland Duke of Cleveland was a title that was created twice, once in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. The dukedoms were named after Cleveland in northern England. The first creation in 1670 (along with the baro ...

, and of Louisa Whitbread, ''née'' Michell, daughter of Admiral Sir Frederick Michell. He was educated at

Rugby School Rugby School is a Public school (United Kingdom), private boarding school for pupils aged 13–18, located in the town of Rugby, Warwickshire in England. Founded in 1567 as a free grammar school for local boys, it is one of the oldest independ ...

and

Balliol College, Oxford Balliol College () is a constituent college of the University of Oxford. Founded in 1263 by nobleman John I de Balliol, it has a claim to be the oldest college in Oxford and the English-speaking world. With a governing body of a master and aro ...

, where he took first class honours in

classical moderations Honour Moderations (or ''Mods'') are a set of examinations at the University of Oxford at the end of the first part of some degree courses (e.g., Greats or '' Literae Humaniores''). Honour Moderations candidates have a class awarded (hence the ...

and second class honours in '' literae humaniores''. He was called to the bar in 1871, he became a QC in 1891, a

bencher A bencher or Master of the Bench is a senior member of an Inn of Court in England and Wales or the Inns of Court in Northern Ireland, or the Honorable Society of King's Inns in Ireland. Benchers hold office for life once elected. A bencher c ...

Lincoln's Inn The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, commonly known as Lincoln's Inn, is one of the four Inns of Court (professional associations for Barrister, barristers and judges) in London. To be called to the bar in order to practise as a barrister ...

in 1895, while in 1899 he was raised to the bench. In 1900 he came into prominence over the case known as the Taff Vale judgment. His decision, though reversed by the court of appeal, was upheld in 1901 by the

House of Lords The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the lower house, the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster in London, England. One of the oldest ext ...

, and ultimately led to the passing of the Trade Disputes Act (1906). In 1906 Farwell was made a Lord of Appeal, but resigned this position in 1913. He published ''Concise Treatise on the Law of Powers'' (1874). His son Sir Christopher John Wickens Farwell was also a High Court Chancery judge.

Notable Cases

*''

Whittington v Seale-Hayne ''Whittington v Seale-Hayne'' (1900) 82 LT 49 is an English contract law case concerning misrepresentation. It holds that indemnities can be claimed under English law for any consequential costs of a contract not turning on an innocent misrepres ...

'' (1900) 82 LT 49 *'' Borland’s Trustee v Steel Brothers & Co Ltd'' 9011 Ch 279 *'' British South Africa Company v De Beers Consolidated Mines Ltd'' 9102 Ch 502

Arms

Notes

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Farwell, George 1845 births 1915 deaths People educated at Rugby School Alumni of Balliol College, Oxford Lord justices of appeal Members of Lincoln's Inn 20th-century English judges Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom Knights Bachelor English King's Counsel People from Codsall Members of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council English barristers 19th-century English lawyers