John Winfield Bonser

Sir John Winfield Bonser, (24 October 1847 – 9 December 1914) was a British colonial judge. He served as the 17th Chief Justice of Ceylon for almost 10 years. Early life Bonser was the son of Reverend John Bonser. He was born in Walsham, Norfolk, in 1847. Bonser was educated at Ashby Grammar School, Loughborough Grammar School, Heath Grammar School admitted October 1863, and Christ's College, Cambridge and Lincoln's Inn. Legal career He was Attorney General of the Straits Settlements between 1883 and 1893. He was appointed Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements, in 1893, on the untimely death from cholera of the incumbent Chief Justice, Elliot Bovill. He soon transferred to Ceylon where he served as Chief Justice of Ceylon from 1893 to 1902. He was knighted in 1894.