CERTIFICATES X 2 AWARDED BY MIDDLE TEMPLE LONDON TO ARCHIBALD PAULL BURT

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1825

Overview

Two certificates awarded by Middle Temple, London to Archibald Paull Burt.
a) Certificate of Admission of Archibald Paul Burt to Middle Temple, issued when he was fourteen and a half years of age. Dated 12 April 1825. Single page (possibly parchment), folded in half vertically - text is ornately handwritten in a Gothic-style script on the outside of one-half page. Small notation on the other side reads, 'Certificate of A.P. Burt'. Four folds in total, three vertical and one lateral. Red wax seal, cracked, at bottom right on front. Stain at top appears to have been caused by resting against a wax seal - whether it is the seal on this document, or another is unknown. Signed by RM Casberd (for the Treasurer) and witnessed by ? (indecipherable signature).
b) Certificate of Archibald Paull Burt's Admission to the Bar at Middle Temple, allowing him to practice as a barrister. Dated 25 November 1845. Signed by J Godson (?) and witnessed by W Eldred (Sub-treasurer). Single page with handwritten text on paper. Red wax seal at lower right.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-46-1976.20a,b

Item type

Documents

Material

Ink

Wax

Width

200 mm

Height or length

320 mm

Inscriptions and markings

a) Middle Temple seal
b) Middle Temple seal, pencil notations unknown date

Contextual Information

The certificate of admission to Middle Temple of Archibald Burt when he was 14½ is representative of the nineteenth century (and earlier) practice of privileged families residing in British overseas colonies sending their male children back to England for their education. It was expected they would also be able to form professional contacts to further their future career, thereby maintaining their family’s standing.
The second certificate, awarded 20 years later, could be seen as being representative of the culmination of this educational process. Both certificates are original and complete.

Sir Archibald Paull Burt (1810-1879) was born into a plantation-owning family on St Kitts Island (formerly St Christopher in the West Indies). Burt accepted the position of Civil Commissioner and Chairman of Quarter Sessions in Western Australia in 1860. In January 1861 he arrived in Western Australia with his family. Burt was instrumental in establishing the Supreme Court Australia in 1861 and became the first Chief Justice of Western Australia. Knighted for his contributions in 1873, he maintained a secluded life to ensure impartiality and professional detachment as sole judge in the colony until his death in 1879. Archibald Paull Burt’s impact and lasting legacy in Western Australia continues through his family members who have held governmental and legislative roles in the state for multiple generations.

Keywords

Burt, Archibald Paull

Middle Temple

Place made

London, United Kingdom

Year

1825

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Scientific or research significance

Comparative significance criteria

Object’s condition or completeness