SIr George Markham Giffard,PC (4 November 1813 – 13 July 1870) was an English barrister and judge.
The fourth son of Admiral John Giffard and Susannah, daughter of Sir John Carter, he was born at his father's official residence inPortsmouth dockyard on 4 November 1813. He was educated atWinchester College and atNew College, Oxford, where he was elected to a fellowship in 1832 and took the degree ofBCL on 4 March 1841.[1]
While studying at Oxford, he playedfirst-class cricket forOxford University on four occasions between 1834 and 1836.[2] He scored 128 runs in these matches, with a high score of 105 against theMarylebone Cricket Club atLord's in 1835.[3]
As a bowler he took 7 wickets, on one occasion taking afive wicket haul.[4]
Giffard entered theInner Temple, of which he eventually became a bencher, and wascalled to the bar in November 1840. He obtained an equity practice and was a leading chancery junior counsel. In 1859, he became aQueen's Counsel and attached himself to the court of Vice-chancellorSir William Page Wood.[1]
When Vice-Chancellor Wood in March 1868 became aLord Justice of Appeal, Giffard succeeded him and was again his successor on his promotion from theCourt of Appeal asLord Chancellor, when he also became a member of the Privy Council. After an extended illness, he died at his house, 4 Prince's Gardens,Hyde Park, London. In 1853, he married Maria, second daughter of Charles Pilgrim of Kingsfield,Southampton.[1]
As a barrister, he appeared in numerous cases, including the successful respondents inLiverpool Marine Credit Co v Hunter (1868) 3 LR Ch App 479.
As a judge, Giffard handed down the decision inIn re Panama, New Zealand, and Australian Royal Mail Co (1870) 5 Ch App 318, generally regarded as the first case in English law to recognise thefloating charge. He also gave the judgment inMunns v Isle of Wight Railway Company (1870) 5 Ch App 414 in relation to the appointment of a receiver in favour of the holder of anequitable lien.[citation needed]
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Stephen, Leslie, ed. (1890). "Giffard, George Markham".Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 21. London: Smith, Elder & Co.