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Chalmers, David, 1835-1899 (British colonial judge and Chief Justice of British Guyana)

 Person

Staff Only

Biography

Sir David Chalmers was educated at the Edinburgh Institution and the University of Edinburgh. He was called to the Scottish Bar in 1860 and sworn in as Magistrate of Gambia in 1867. He became Chief Justice of British Guiana (now Guyana) in 1872. In 1876, he was appointed Chief Justice of the Gold Coast and received a knighthood. He was appointed as Royal Commissioner to investigate the Sierra Leone revolt of 1898.

Sir David Chalmers married Janet Alice Lorimer (1857-1946) in 1878. The couple resided in British Guiana (now Guyana) with their maid Joanna, otherwise known as 'Nan' or 'Nana'. The couple had six children: David Patrick (b.1880), Hannah Helen (b.1882), Alison Bell (b.1884), Thomas Michael (1886-1904), James Lorimer (b.1888), and Esther Barbara (1894-1983).

Found in 1 Collection or Record:

Letter from Janet Alice Chalmers (née Lorimer) to unknown, 22 October c.1880-1885

 Item
Identifier: Coll-27 (MS 2482)
Scope and Contents

Letter in English from Janet Alice Chalmers (née Lorimer) to unknown on the subject of life in British Guyana, dated 22 October, year unknown.

Dates: 22 October c.1880-1885
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer / Lorimer family letters