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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 14 Collections and/or Records:

Letter from "Loupou" to "Dearest Chicken" (Janet Alice Chalmers (née Lorimer)), 1 March 1879

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

Letter in English from "LouPou" to "Dearest Chicken" who in this instance is Janet Alice Chalmers (née Lorimer), discusses events of the week, asks if "Miss Inglis" has written since she wanted to welcome "Chicken". Shares that the children have had "hooping [sic] cough". Photo should be sent to them and to give love to David, dated 1 March 1878[sic] [should be 1879].

Dates: 1 March 1879
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer / Lorimer family letters

Letter from "Nannie Chalmers" (possibly Hannah Helen Chalmers) to "My dear Daddy" (possibly Sir David Chalmers ), 20 November 1892

 Item
Identifier: Coll-27 (MS 2483)
Scope and Contents

Letter in English from "Nannie Chalmers" (Possibly Hannah Helen Chalmers) to "My dear Daddy" (Possibly Sir David Chalmers) on the subject of her new Governess, dated 20 November 1892.

Dates: 20 November 1892
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer / Lorimer family letters

Letter to Sir David Chalmers from James Lorimer, 18 October 1887

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

Letter in English from James Lorimer to Sir David Chalmers on the subject of his marriage to Janet Alice Chalmers and his aspirations for his family dated 18 october 1887.

Dates: 18 October 1887
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer / Lorimer family letters

Letter to Sir David Chalmers from James Lorimer, c 1887

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

Letter from James Lorimer to Sir David Chalmers on the subject of David's idea to write a book on Roman-Dutch law and its applications in the colonies dated c. 1887.

Dates: c 1887
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / Papers of Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer / Lorimer family letters