Background
William A. Wearing was born in London, a son of businessman Christopher Hammond Wearing (ca1785 – 29 February 1860) and his wife Elizabeth Augusta, née Soulsby.
William A. Wearing was born in London, a son of businessman Christopher Hammond Wearing (ca1785 – 29 February 1860) and his wife Elizabeth Augusta, née Soulsby.
He was educated at Trinity College, or Street John"s College, Cambridge, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts He studied law, and was called to the bar at Lincoln"s Inn in 1847.
The partnership was dissolved, and Mr. Wearing was appointed Crown Solicitor, but was able to continue in private practice. In the earlier days of the colony he occasionally took part in colonial politics.
Working for the election of Mr.
(later Judge) Gwynne, and also in securing the return of Doctor Wark. In 1866 he served on the secret court of inquiry which forced the resignation of Police Commissioner Peter Warburton.
He took an active part in the 1867 sacking of Mr. Justice Benjamin Boothby and was appointed by the Honorary
A. Blyth"s or Honorary Sir Henry Ayers" Government as the third judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia in his place.
Participant of his duties involved holding the Palmerston Circuit Court in the Northern Territory, from where he was returning when the Gothenburg was wrecked. He was not one of the 22 persons who survived. Wearing"s place on the Bench was taken by Justice Randolph Isham Stow Queen's Counsel, but he died three years later on 16 September 1878.
Daughter Jessie Blanche Wearing married Andrew MacLachlan on 12 December 1885. son Charles Elton Wearing died on 15 September 1898
youngest daughter Mabel Wearing married Frank Towers Cooper, part-owner of The Scotsman on 1 August 1893.