Cockburn Sir Alexander

Cockburn, Sir Alexander (1802-1880), an English judge, was educated at Cambridge, and called to the bar in 1829. He soon obtained a good parliamentary practice, and in 1847 became Liberal member for Southampton. In 1850 he became Solicitor-General and was knighted; in 1856 he was made Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and in 1859 Lord Chief Justice. As an advocate Sir Alexander was renowned for his eloquence, and was an acute and painstaking judge. His prosecution of Palmer - in which case he was opposed to Mr. Shee - will still be in the minds of some, as well as his connection with the Tichborne and Wainwright trials. He represented England at the Geneva Conference arising out of the Alabama case.