2-996-043 - The Print Collector/Heritage Images

W. H. Adams, Esq., (formerly member for Boston), Chief Justice of Hong-Kong, 1860. 'It is no longer necessary that a man should be a descendant of a proud ancestry in order that he may achieve greatness or attain eminence...After completing his school education...[Mr. Adams] took to the business of a compositor in a printing establishment in London...in 1834 he removed to Boston to take the management of the Lincolnshire Herald, a Conservative paper...he was elected a member of the Town Council, and eventually twice filled the responsible post of Mayor...He was called to the Bar in 1843...His eloquence in this capacity led to his appointment to the Recordership for Derby...In 1856 he was appointed Poor-law Auditor for the Lincoln, Nottingham, and Rutland district...[in April 1857]...he was returned, without opposition, as the fellow-representative of Herbert Ingram of Boston in die British House of Commons...in the early part of 1859 [he was appointed] to the high and responsible position of Attorney-General of Hong-Kong...Since then he has been further promoted to the office of Chief Justice'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860.