Charles Henry Major

Sir Charles Henry Major (30 October 1860 – 31 August 1933) was a British judge, who served in various colonies around the Caribbean, as well as in Fiji.

Sir Charles Henry Major
Attorney General of Grenada
In office 1901–1902
Monarch	Edward VII
Preceded by	Leslie Probyn
5th Chief Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office 1902–1914
Monarchs	Edward VII George V
Preceded by	Sir Henry Berkeley
Succeeded by	Albert Ehrhardt (acting)
8th Chief Justice of Fiji
In office 1902–1914
Monarchs	Edward VII George V
Preceded by	Sir Henry Berkeley
Succeeded by	Albert Ehrhardt (acting)
Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific
In office 1910 – 21 February 1911
Monarch	Edward VII
Preceded by	Sir Everard im Thurn
Succeeded by	Sir Francis May
Acting Governor of Fiji
In office 1910 – 21 February 1911
Monarch	Edward VII
Preceded by	Sir Everard im Thurn
Succeeded by	Sir Francis May
Chief Justice of British Guiana
In office 1914 – 31 August 1933
Monarch	George V
Personal details
Born	30 October 1860 St Kitts
Died	31 August 1933(1933-08-31) (aged 72)
Nationality	British
Spouse(s)	Sarah Waterman Branch m. 21 December 1893
Alma mater	Middle Temple

Biography

Born in St Kitts, Major was the son of Charles Henry Major Sr., manager of the Colonial Bank of the West Indies, and Francis Frederica Clinckett, of Barbados. He was called to the bar at the Middle Temple, and practised Law in the Leeward Islands from 1887.

He was Chancellor of the Diocese of Antigua from 1889 to 1899, a member of the Legislative Council of Antigua from 1895 to 1899, and a member and President of the General Legislative Council of the Leeward Islands from 1896 to 1900. He served as a member of the Federal Executive Council of the Leeward Islands from 1897 to 1901, as Vice-President of the Legislative Council of Antigua from 1897 to 1899, and Attorney General of Grenada from 1901 to 1902, when he transferred to Fiji.^[1][2]

He was appointed Chief Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific and Chief Justice of Fiji in September 1902,^[3] serving as such until 1914, then as Chief Justice of British Guiana from 1914 till his death in 1933. During his term as Chief Justice of Fiji, he was ex officio a member of the Legislative Council, and acted as Governor of Fiji in an interim capacity from 1910 to 21 February 1911.

He was given a knighthood in 1911 while serving as Chief Justice of Fiji.

References

1. Walford, Edward. "The county families of the United Kingdom". The county families of the United Kingdom; or, Royal manual of the titled and untitled aristocracy of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland... (Volume ed.59, yr.1919). Retrieved 19 August 2015.
2. "Sir Charles Henry Major". Gittens One-Name Study. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
3. "No. 27476". The London Gazette. 23 September 1902. p. 6075.

Government offices
Preceded by Leslie Probyn	Attorney General of Grenada 1901–1902	Succeeded by
Preceded by Sir Everard im Thurn	Acting High Commissioner for the Western Pacific 1910–1911	Succeeded by Sir Francis May
	Acting Governor of Fiji 1910–1911
Preceded by Sir Henry Berkeley	Acting Chief Judicial Commissioner for the Western Pacific 1902–1914	Succeeded by Albert Ehrnhardt Acting
	Chief Justice of Fiji 1902–1914
Preceded by Henry Alleyn Bovell	Chief Justice of British Guiana 1914–1933	Succeeded by Anthony de Freitas