Roland Vaughan Williams

Sir Roland Bowdler Lomax Vaughan Williams (31 December 1838 – 8 December 1916) was an English lawyer and judge. From 1897 to 1914 he was a Lord Justice of the Court of Appeal. He was an authority on the laws of bankruptcy, and wrote a book that remained the standard English work on the subject for many years.

Life and career

Vaughan Williams was born in Kensington, London, the fifth son of the judge Sir Edward Vaughan Williams and his wife, Jane Margaret, née Bagot. Among his brothers was Arthur, who became a clergyman and was the father of the composer Ralph Vaughan Williams. He was educated at the Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford, graduating in the year 1860.

Vaughan Williams was called to the bar in 1861 and was a barrister of Lincoln's Inn. In 1870 he published The Law and Practice of Bankruptcy, a work that was for many years the standard English authority on the subject.

Vaughan Williams died at his home in Abinger, Surrey, at the age of 77.

Notable cases High Court Re Anglo-Austrian Printing & Publishing Union 2 Ch 891, concerning recovery of assets under a misfeasance action

Court of Appeal Re Peveril Gold Mines Ltd 1 Ch 122, regarding the power of a shareholder to wind-up an insolvent company Allen v Gold Reefs of West Africa Ltd 1 Ch 656 (dissenting), on amendments to the articles of association which were not in the interests of the company as a whole Krell v Henry 2 KB 740, one of the "Coronation cases" relating to frustration of purpose under contract law Re Yorkshire Woolcombers Association Ltd 2 Ch 295, arguably his most famous judicial contribution, formulating the description of a floating charge Re Atkinson 2 Ch 160, on apportioning entitlements between a life tenant and remainderman in a trust Hirachand Punumchand v Temple 2 KB 330, relating to part payment of debts Chaplin v Hicks 2 KB 786, on damages for loss of chance