Richard Wilberforce, Baron Wilberforce

Richard Orme Wilberforce, Baron Wilberforce, (11 March 1907 – 15 February 2003) was a British judge. He was a Lord of Appeal in Ordinary from 1964 to 1982.

Early life and career

Born in Jalandhar, India, Richard Wilberforce was the son of Samuel Wilberforce, ICS, later a judge of the Lahore High Court, and of Katherine Wilberforce, daughter of John Sheepshanks, Bishop of Norwich. His grandfather was Reginald Wilberforce, who helped restore British order in Delhi, after the Indian Rebellion of 1857. His great-grandfather was Samuel Wilberforce, Bishop of Winchester, and his great-great-grandfather was the abolitionist William Wilberforce, a connection which had much influence upon him.

Wilberforce spent the first seven years of his life in India, before being sent to England in 1914 on the outbreak of the First World War. He attended five preparatory schools, the last being Sandroyd School. he was also sworn of the Privy Council. He is the only English judge in recent times to have been appointed to the House of Lords directly from the High Court, without having prior served in the Court of Appeal.