William Hackett

Sir William Bartholomew Hackett (1824 – 17 May 1877) was an Irish judge who was the second Chief Justice of Fiji and the 12th Chief Justice of Ceylon.

He was born in Cork, Ireland, the son of Bartholomew Hackett. He was educated at Stonyhurst College and Trinity College Dublin, graduating in 1846.

He became a member of the Irish Bar on the Munster circuit, was called to the bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1851 and practiced mainly at the Chancery Bar. In October 1861, he was appointed Queen's Advocate in Gold Coast acting as Chief Justice until confirmed in the position in April 1863. The following year, he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of the Gold Coast. In 1866, he moved to south-east Asia to be Recorder of the Prince of Wales's Island (Penang Island). He was knighted on his appointment as Recorder, and in 1871, was appointed Acting Chief Justice of the Straits Settlements.