Person

Banister, Thomas (Barrister-at-law)

1793-1875

Thomas Bannister was born about 1793 in England.

Thomas Bannister (or Banister) was admitted to the Inner Temple on February 6, 1822, at the age of 29. He was the third son of John Bannister, late of Steyning, Sussex, and an Esquire. After a brief stint in the British Army, he fought in the Greek War of Independence (1821–1832) and received decorations for his service. He was officially called to the Bar in 1842, by which time he had dropped one of the 'n's in his last name. His legal career likely ended when he left 4 Middle Temple Lane by 1848 or certainly by 1856. In the 1850s, he embarked on an extended tour of Australia and co-authored "Australia Visited and Revisited" with S. Mossman. Additionally, he authored pamphlets advocating for reforms in the Army, trade with the colonies, and suffrage. He disappeared from 5 Childs Place in 1874-75, presumably indicating his passing. Annotated copies of some of his pamphlets can be found in the Goldsmiths Library of the University of London.

He died about 1875 in London, England.