Background
Shee was born in Finchley, Middlesex. His father, Joseph, was a merchant from Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland, his mother, Teresa née Darell.
Shee was born in Finchley, Middlesex. His father, Joseph, was a merchant from Thomastown, County Kilkenny, Ireland, his mother, Teresa née Darell.
University of Edinburgh.
Nicholas Wiseman was a cousin. He was initially educated at the school for French refugees founded by the Abbé Carron in Somers Town and where Hughes Felicité Robert de Lamennais taught. In 1818 he joined Wiseman as a student at Saint Cuthbert"s College, Ushaw.
He also attended Edinburgh University where he joined The Speculative Society.
In 1823 he became a pupil of Thomas Chitty at Lincoln"s Inn and was called to the bar in 1828. Shee enjoyed a successful career as a barrister, being made serjeant-at-law in 1840, receiving a patent of precedence in 1845, and being appointed queen"s serjeant in 1857.
Shee"s famous cases as an advocate included the Roupell case and leading the unsuccessful defence of poisoner William Palmer in 1856. In the latter case the defence case suffered adverse comment from the judge because Shee had, against all rules and conventions of professional conduct, told the jury that he personally believed Palmer to be innocent.
He edited a great number of legal publications.
16th United Kingdom Parliament.