Edward Acton

Sir Edward Acton (6 November 1865 – 17 November 1945) was an English barrister and judge. He had the distinction of being the first County Court judge to be appointed to the High Court of Justice. Biography Early life and legal career Edward Acton was born in Manchester, the son of Henry Morell Acton and of Anne Shaw, née Williamson. His father was an editor of the Manchester Guardian, and the son of the Unitarian minister Henry Acton. He educated at Uppingham School, where he was an exhibitioner, and Wadham College, Oxford, where he was a classical scholar and the Hody Greek exhibitioner. Acton took a first in classical moderations in 1886 and a second in literae humaniores in 1888, then joined the Inner Temple as a foundation scholar in 1890. He was called to the bar in 1891 and later became a bencher of the Inner Temple. He joined the Northern Circuit and practiced mainly in Manchester and Liverpool, building up a large practice. He additional became a lecturer in the law of evidence and procedure at the University of Manchester.