Mark Wilson (judge)

Sir Mark Wilson
12th Chief Justice of the Gold Coast
In office 1948–1956
Preceded by	Walter Harragin
Succeeded by	Kobina Arku Korsah
Personal details
Born	(1896-10-22)22 October 1896 Castlecomer, Kilkenny
Died	10 April 1956(1956-04-10) (aged 59) Accra, Ghana
Alma mater	Trinity College Dublin
Profession	Judge
Military service
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch/service	Royal Air Force
Years of service	1918 - 1919

Sir Mark Wilson (22 October 1896 – 10 April 1956) was an Irish-born British colonial administrator and judge. He was Chief Justice of the Gold Coast from 1948 until his death in 1956.

Early life and career

Wilson was born in Castlecomer, Kilkenny. He was educated at Kilkenny College, Mountjoy School, and Trinity College, Dublin (BA, LLB). His university education was interrupted by service with the Royal Air Force from 1918 to 1919. He was Auditor of the College Historical Society and captained Wanderers F.C.

He was called to the Irish Bar in 1924, before joining the Colonial Administrative Service in Tanganyika as a Cadet the same year. In 1926, he was transferred to Uganda as a District Magistrate, being promoted to Senior Magistrate in 1935. In 1936, he returned to Tanganyika as a puisne judge. In 1948, he was appointed as Chief Justice of the Gold Coast. He was knighted in the 1950 King's Birthday Honours List.

While Chief Justice of the Gold Coast, he presided over the Supreme Court sitting in January 1956 on allegations of misconduct against Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey leading to the suspension of Obetsebi-Lamptey for two years.

Family

Wilson married Dr Isabella Kilpatrick McNeilly in 1927; they had one son and two daughters.

Death

Wilson died in Accra in 1956; he was succeeded as Chief Justice by Kobina Arku Korsah, the first African man to hold the post.