Judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature at Fort William, established by the Regulating Act of 1773, were appointed on this day.
The Supreme Court replaced the Mayor’s Court of Calcutta and was the highest court in colonial India till 1862, when the High Court of Calcutta was established.
The first judges were: Elijah Impey, Chief Justice from 1774 to 1783, when he was called back to England for impeachment.
Stephen Caesar Le Maistre, a puisne judge from 1774 to 1777.
John Hyde (judge), a puisne judge from 1774 to 1796. He is remembered for the Hyde Papers, the notes he kept of judicial proceedings, also recording how his fellow judges accepted bribes.
Robert Chambers, a puisne judge from 1774 to 1783, acting Chief Justice from 1783 to 1791 and Chief Justice from 1791 to 1798. He contributed some notes to the Hyde Papers.
William Jones, the famous scholar and founder of The Asiatic Society, was a puisne judge from 1783 to 1794.
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