Scarlett, SIR JAMES, BARON ABINGER

Scarlett, SIR JAMES, BARON ABINGER, an English barrister and judge, was born in Jamaica in 1769, but sent to England to be educated. After graduating at Cambridge, from Trinity College, in 1790, he chose to follow law, and entered at the Inner Temple. His fine personal appearance, backed up by an excellent knowledge of his profession, and by a quiet unassuming manner, soon secured him a large practice, especially as his pleadings began to have an extraordinary weight with the juries. He took silk in 1816, and from that time held the front rank on the northern circuit and in the law-courts at Westminster. In 1818-31 he sat in parliament as member for Peterborough. Canning in 1827 appointed Scarlett Attorney-general, when he was also knighted. He held that office, except for fifteen months, till November 1830. In 1834 Sir James was raised to the bench as Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer, and took his seat in the House of Lords as Baron Abinger. He died 7th April 1844.—SIR JAMES YORKE SCARLETT, General, G.C.B., second son of the above, was born in 1799, educated at Eton and Cambridge, entered the army, and was colonel of the 5th Dragoon Guards (1840-53). He was sent to the Crimea in command of the heavy cavalry, which he led in their famous charge of 15th Oct. 1854. He afterwards commanded all the cavalry in the Crimea, and (1865-70) the Aldershot camp. He died in December 1871.