Sir Walter Morgan (1821–28 October 1906) was a Welsh judge who is the first Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Courtin British India. He also became the 2nd Chief justice of Madras High Court from 1871 to 1879.
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Life and career
Morgan was born in Llantrisant, Glamorgan, Wales in 1821, he was the son of Walter Morgan. He pursued his higher education at King's College London before entering the Middle Temple to study law. He was called to the Bar on 18 November 1841, after which he initially spent several years working in England as a conveyancer and equity draughtsman, alongside traveling the South Wales Circuit.
Seeking greater professional horizons, Morgan relocated to India and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court in Calcutta on 2 July 1852. His sharp legal mind and deep expertise in equity law quickly earned him immense respect within the local legal circles, transforming him into one of the most learned figures in the region's legal community. Recognizing his talent, the administration appointed him as the Clerk of the Legislative Council of India in 1854, a position he held until 1859, when he transitioned to the role of Master in Equity to the Supreme Court in Calcutta.
By 1862, following the restructuring of the local court system under the Indian High Courts Act of 1861, Morgan was elevated as a puisne judge of the newly formed Calcutta High Court. During his tenure in Calcutta, his professional stature grew exponentially; notably, it was Judge Morgan who accepted the enrollment application of Vishwanath Datta (the father of Swami Vivekananda) to practice as an attorney-at-law.