Lord Justice of Appeal. William was born in Merthyr Tydfil, Wales. He was the son of Christopher James. He was educated at the University of Glasgow, where he graduated MA and afterwards became an honorary LLD.  He was called to the Bar from Lincoln’s Inn in 1831. William first practised his legal work around the South Wales circuit, but later switched his activities to his Chancery practice. During his legal career, he held the posts of Junior Counsel to HM Treasury in Equity, Junior Counsel to the Woods and Forests Department, the Inland Revenue, and the Metropolitan Board of Works. In 1846 William married Maria Otter, daughter of William Otter, Bishop of Chichester. In 1853 he became Queens Counsel. In 1869 he was made a Knight Bachelor, and appointed as Vice-Chancellor. In 1870 he was appointed Lord Justice of Appeal and a Privy Councillor, which entitled him to sit on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. He was also a member of the Reform Club. While a Lord Justice of Appeal, he decided Lambe v Eames (1871) LR 6 Ch App 597, which is a leading case on the construction of declarations of trust.  He died at his London residence. (bio by: Shock)