Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Manisty, Henry
MANISTY, Sir HENRY (1808–1890), judge, second son of James Manisty, B.D., vicar of Edlingham, Northumberland, by his wife Eleanor, only daughter of Francis Foster of Seaton Barn Hall, Northumberland, was born 13 Dec. 1808. He was educated at Durham Cathedral grammar school, and was articled when still a boy in the offices of Thorpe & Dickson, attorneys, of Alnwick, Northumberland. He was afterwards admitted a solicitor in 1830, and practised for twelve years as a member of the firm of Meggison, Pringle, & Manisty, of 3 King's (now Theobald's) Road, near Bedford Row, London. On 20 April 1812 he became a student of Gray's Inn, and was called to the bar 23 April 1816. He became a bencher there in 1859, and treasurer in 1861. He joined the northern circuit, and soon obtained an important if not a leading practice. He was made a queen's counsel 7 July 1857, and appeared principally in mercantile and circuit cases. His opinions on points of law were always held in especial esteem. At length, but somewhat late, in November 1876, when Lord Blackburn quitted the high court, he was made a judge, and was knighted. Among his most important decisions were his judgments in Regina v. Bishop of Oxford (1879), Belt v. Lawes (1881), Adams v. Coleridge (1891), and O'Brien v. Lord Salisbury (1889). He was seized with paralysis in court 31 Jan. 1890, died 30 Jan. at 24a Bryanston Square, London, and was buried, 5 Feb., at Kensal Green cemetery. In August 1831 he married Constantia, fifth daughter of Patrick Dickson, solicitor, of Berwick-on-Tweed, who died 9 Aug. 1836, and in May 1838 Mary Ann, third daughter of Robert Stevenson, surgeon, of Berwick-on-Tweed, by whom he had four sons and three daughters.
[Times, 1 Feb. 1890; Solicitor's Journal, 8 Feb. 1890); Law Times. 15 Feb. 1890; Law Journal, 8 Feb. 1890; private information.]