Bruce Burnside

Sir Bruce Lockhart Burnside (26 July 1833 – 11 August 1909) was a Bahamian lawyer and politician.

He served as a Member of Parliament, Solicitor-General and Attorney-General of the Bahama Islands, later becoming the 25th Queen's Advocate of Ceylon and the 16th Chief Justice of Ceylon.

Early life and education

Burnside was born in Nassau, the second son of Hon. John James Burnside, one time Surveyor-General of the Bahamas and his wife, Mary.

Burnside was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in 1856. He was called to the bar on 30 April 1856.

Legal and political career

Bahamas

Burnside returned to Nassau and established himself in legal practice. He became a member of the House of Assembly of the Bahamas in 1859.

During the American Civil War, he served as a legal adviser to the Confederate States.

In 1864, Burnside was appointed Solicitor-General of the Bahamas on 26 May. He served as the Speaker of the House of Assembly from November 1866 to February 1867. He was appointed to the Executive Council in 1866, and subsequently to the Legislative Council in 1872 and appointed Attorney-General in 1875 on 3 September.

Chief Justice of Ceylon

In 1879, Burnside was appointed Queen's Advocate in Ceylon.

Four years later, he was appointed Chief Justice of Ceylon on 21 May 1883 succeeding Jacobus de Wet and served as Chief Justice until 1889. He was succeeded by John Winfield Bonser.

Honours and awards

In 1874, Burnside was made Queen's Counsel. He was knighted in 1884.

Personal life and death

Burnside died in England on 11 August 1909. He was survived by his wife, Mary. One son, Robert Bruce Burnside, was a judge on the Supreme Court of Western Australia. Another son was the colonial administrator, Edmund Burnside.