Peter Benson Maxwell (31 January 1817 – 14 January 1893) was a colonial judge and legal writer.
Peter Benson Maxwell was born on 31 January 1817, [1] the fourth son of Reverend Peter Benson Maxwell of Birdstown, County Donegal, Ireland. [2] He attended Trinity College Dublin. [1] He was called to the bar of the Middle Temple on 19 November 1841. [3]
Maxwell was the recorder of Penang (then called Prince of Wales Island) from 1856 to 1866 and of Singapore from 1866 to 1871. [3] He became the chief justice of the Straits Settlements in 1867, remaining in office until 1871. [3]
His legal treatise, On the Interpretation of Statutes, [4] was first published in 1875 and was in its 12th edition as of 1976. [1] He also wrote a book titled The Duties of Police Magistrates (1871). [2]
Maxwell was knighted on 30 January 1856. [3] He died on 14 January 1893. [1]
Peter Benson Maxwell (31 January 1817 – 14 January 1893) was a colonial judge and legal writer.
Peter Benson Maxwell was born on 31 January 1817, [1] the fourth son of Reverend Peter Benson Maxwell of Birdstown, County Donegal, Ireland. [2] He attended Trinity College Dublin. [1] He was called to the bar of the Middle Temple on 19 November 1841. [3]
Maxwell was the recorder of Penang (then called Prince of Wales Island) from 1856 to 1866 and of Singapore from 1866 to 1871. [3] He became the chief justice of the Straits Settlements in 1867, remaining in office until 1871. [3]
His legal treatise, On the Interpretation of Statutes, [4] was first published in 1875 and was in its 12th edition as of 1976. [1] He also wrote a book titled The Duties of Police Magistrates (1871). [2]
Maxwell was knighted on 30 January 1856. [3] He died on 14 January 1893. [1]