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Thomas Garvin

1881 – 1940

Sri Lankan judge

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About Thomas Garvin

Lived 1881 – 1940 (aged 58). Thomas Garvin was a Sri Lankan judge and lawyer.

Sir Thomas Forrest Garvin II, KC (8 August 1881 – 19 June 1940) was a Ceylonese (Sri Lankan) judge and lawyer. He was a judge of the Supreme Court of Ceylon and Solicitor General of Ceylon.

Born to Dr Thomas Forrest Garvin and Grace Louisa Vander Smagt, he was educated at Royal College Colombo and Colombo Law College. In 1903 he became an Advocate and began his legal practice and became the third Crown Counsel in 1908. He was promoted to Senior Crown Counsel in 1912; he went on to serve as acting Solicitor General and Additional District Judge of Colombo before he was confirmed in the appointment of Solicitor General in 1915. He served in this capacity until 1924 and served as acting Attorney General on several occasions. In this capacity he was an ex officio member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon. In 1924 he was appointed as a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of Ceylon and went on to serve as acting Chief Justice on three occasions.

He retired from the bench in 1935 and was made a Knight Bachelor in the 1935 Birthday Honours; previously he was appointed a King's Counsel. Garvin married Madeleine Louise Alvis, daughter of Arthur Alvis, proctor and member of the Legislative Council of Ceylon.

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Education
Royal College, Colombo, Royal College Colombo
Awards
Knight Bachelor
Also known as
Sir Thomas Forrest Garvin II

People in Thomas Garvin's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Thomas Garvin's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Thomas Garvin?

Sri Lankan judge (1881–1940)

When was Thomas Garvin born?

Thomas Garvin was born on 8 August 1881.

When did Thomas Garvin die?

Thomas Garvin died on 19 June 1940.

What was Thomas Garvin's occupation?

Thomas Garvin was a judge and lawyer.

What nationality was Thomas Garvin?

Thomas Garvin was Sri Lankan.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Thomas Garvin

· Wikidata: Q15996933

· DBpedia: Thomas Garvin

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Thomas Garvin. https://biography.guide/thomas-garvin/

MLA: "Thomas Garvin." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/thomas-garvin/.

Chicago: "Thomas Garvin." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/thomas-garvin/.

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