Sir Walter Morgan (1821–28 October 1906) was a Welsh judge who is the first Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Courtin British India. He also became the 2nd Chief justice of Madras High Court from 1871 to 1879.
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Life and career
Morgan was born in Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales in 1821, he was the son of Walter Morgan. He pursued his higher education at King's College London before entering the Middle Temple to study law. He was called to the Bar on 18 November 1841, after which he initially spent several years working in England as a conveyancer and equity draughtsman, alongside traveling the South Wales Circuit.
Seeking greater professional horizons, Morgan relocated to India and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court in Calcutta on 2 July 1852. His sharp legal mind and deep expertise in equity law quickly earned him immense respect within the local legal circles, transforming him into one of the most learned figures in the region's legal community. Recognizing his talent, the administration appointed him as the Clerk of the Legislative Council of India in 1854, a position he held until 1859, when he transitioned to the role of Master in Equity to the Supreme Court in Calcutta.
By 1862, following the restructuring of the local court system under the Indian High Courts Act of 1861, Morgan was elevated as a puisne judge of the newly formed Calcutta High Court. During his tenure in Calcutta, his professional stature grew exponentially; notably, it was Judge Morgan who accepted the enrollment application of Vishwanath Datta (the father of Swami Vivekananda) to practice as an attorney-at-law.
As Chief Justice
The pinnacle of his career came in 1866, when at the age of 45, he was appointed by royal Letters Patent to serve as the very first Chief Justice of the newly established High Court for the North-Western Provinces. Initially set up in Agra on 17 March 1866, the court operated under his leadership alongside five other initial judges and the first registrar, Mr. Simpson. Sir Walter Morgan faced the monumental and complex task of building a premier judicial institution from scratch. Under his strict guidance, the administrative infrastructure was systematically organized, the standards of the local judicial services were elevated, and a highly disciplined local Bar was formed. He commanded deep admiration from both British and Indian practitioners for his immense legal acumen and his unwavering, "untiring patience" on the bench. It was during the final leg of his tenure that the court began its transition of relocating its seat from Agra to Allahabad.
Sir Walter Morgan concluded his historic tenure in Allahabad in November 1871, leaving behind a thriving institution that enjoyed the complete confidence of the public and the legal fraternity. His exceptional administrative and judicial success earned him a promotion to the prestigious office of Chief Justice of the Madras High Court, a position he held from 1871 until his retirement on February 7, 1879. After stepping down from active service, he returned to the United Kingdom. Although Morgan was respected during his time at Madras, he was not a loved figure to either the Bar or the public; some were critical of him, and he was perceived as 'chill' and 'colourless'.
Sir Walter Morgan passed away on 28 October 1906, at the age of 85, leaving behind a rich legacy as a founding pillar of India's provincial higher judiciary.
Family
Morgan's eldest son, Walter, married Caroline, daughter of John Hunter-Blair of the Madras Civil Service, and granddaughter of Sir David Hunter-Blair, 3rd Baronet. Fifth son Harington Morgan (d. 1914), a barrister of the Middle Temple and judge in the Civil Courts of Justice in Sudan, married Lilian Elizabeth Lutley (daughter of Philip Lutley Sclater and Jane Anne Eliza, daughter of Sir David Hunter-Blair, 3rd Baronet); Lilian was therefore a first cousin of Caroline Hunter-Blair, mentioned above.