Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Inderwick, Frederick Andrew

by James Beresford Atlay

INDERWICK, FREDERICK ANDREW (1836–1904), lawyer, fourth son of Andrew Inderwick, R.N., and Jane, daughter of J. Hudson, was born in London on 23 April 1836. He was educated privately and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where he matriculated in Michaelmas term 1853, but did not graduate. He was admitted a student of the Inner Temple on 16 April 1855, and was called to the bar on 26 Jan. 1858. In the preceding year the jurisdiction of Doctors' Commons over matrimonial and testamentary causes was abolished, and the courts of probate and divorce were created by 20 & 21 Victoria, c. 77 and c. 85. Inderwick attached himself to this branch of the profession which speedily developed a special bar of its own. He had learnt from Dr. Spinks, in whose chambers he had been a pupil, the working of the old 'Commons' practice, and he soon made his reputation as a very capable and effective advocate. He took silk on 19 March 1874, and was made a bencher of his inn on 5 June 1877. He rapidly obtained a complete lead in what became from 1876 the Probate Divorce, and Admiralty Division of the High Court of Justice, while still occasionally accepting briefs on the south-eastern circuit, which he had joined immediately after his call. Inderwick enjoyed the advantage of a most pleasing voice and presence, and to a thorough knowledge of his own branch of law and practice he brought the gifts of clear statement and forcible exposition ; but his style in cross-examination was not always as virile as divorce court witnesses require, and in the more important or sensational cases he was generally reinforced by some conspicuous figure from the common law bar. His elevation to the bench was confidently predicted; but promotion never came, and in August 1903, in the full enjoyment of a highly lucrative practice, he accepted the post of commissioner in lunacy. He was then suffering from a painful malady, of which he died just a twelvemonth later.

After two unsuccessful attempts to enter parliament in the liberal interest—for Cirencester in 1868 and Dover in 1874—he was returned for Rye in April 1880, but was defeated at the general election in December 1885, when he stood for the Rye division of the county of Sussex.

His interests were closely bound up with the Cinque Ports, and he twice (1892-3) served as mayor of Winchelsea, near which he had a residence. Inderwick was a prolific writer on historical and antiquarian subjects, and his work on the records of the Inner Temple holds high rank in legal and topographical literature. He was elected F.S.A. in 1894. He died at Edinburgh on 18 August 1904, and was buried at Winchelsea. He married on 4 Aug. 1857 Frances Maria, daughter of John Wilkinson of the exchequer and audit department. A fine bust of Inderwick by Sir George Frampton, R.A., stands in one of the corridors of the Royal Courts of Justice outside the bar library, In the formation and management of which he displayed much judgment and activity. A cartoon by 'Spy' appeared in 'Vanity Fair' (1896).

Besides early legal works, 'The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Acts' (1862), 'The Law of Wills' ( 1866), and his 'Calendar of the Inner Temple Records, 1505-1714,' vols. 1-3 (1896-1901), he published, amongst other works:

1. 'Side-lights on the Stuarts,' 1888.
2. 'The Interregnum, 1648-1660,' 1891.
3. 'The Story of King Edward and New Winchelsea,' 1892.
4. 'The King's Peace,' an historical sketch of the English Law Courts, 1895.

[The Times, 19 Aug. 1904; The Book of Cambridge Matriculations and Degrees; private information.]

J. B. A.