Background
Thomas Strange was the son of Sir Robert Strange, a Scottish artist, and his wife Isabella Lumisden. He was born in England, studied law at Lincoln"s Inn, and was called to the bar in 1785.
Thomas Strange was the son of Sir Robert Strange, a Scottish artist, and his wife Isabella Lumisden. He was born in England, studied law at Lincoln"s Inn, and was called to the bar in 1785.
From 1789–1797, he was the sixth He became the first Chief Justice of the erstwhile Supreme Court of Madras (which has since become the High Court of Madras) and in that capacity was also the first Chief Justice of the Madras Presidency, British India from 1801 to 1817. After practicing law for four years, he was appointed in 1790, likely helped by his mother"s friendship with Lord Mansfield, a cabinet minister. He was sent to Halifax where he served for seven years until 1797.
He found many of the cases had to do with relatively small property claims.
He was instrumental in freeing slaves from their owners in the colony. Strange supported the development of Kings College from his position on the board of governors.
He donated his law library to the lawyers in Nova Scotia, which laid the foundation for the present library of the Nova Scotia Barristers" Society. Benjamin West painted Strange"s full-length portrait, which hangs in the Nova Scotia court.
He moved back to England in July 1796.
Strange was knighted on 14 March 1798 and the same year was appointed as Recorder of Fort Saint George (Madras), British India. In 1800, consequent to the Regulating Acting of 1797, the Recorder"s Court was superseded by the Supreme Court, and Strange was appointed Chief Justice. He commanded two of the four companies of Madras Militia and played an important role in suppressing the Vellore Mutiny of the soldiers of the East India Company in 1806.
After his retirement from service in India in 1817, he returned to England.
A huge portrait of Sir Thomas Strange adorns the gallery of the Chief Justice"s Court in the Madras High Court. He died at Kempshot Road, Lower Streatham on 3 September 1884 and was buried in West Norwood Cemetery.