Charles Layard

Sir Charles Peter Layard (5 December 1849 – 8 June 1915) was the 18th chief justice of Ceylon from 1902 to 1906.

Charles Peter Layard was born on 5 December 1849 in Colombo, the youngest of nine children, to Charles Peter Layard (1806–1893) and Louisa Anne née Edwards (1809–1886), who hailed from a distinguished family, whose earlier relatives migrated to Ceylon.

His father was a civil servant and first mayor of Colombo.

[1] Layard was appointed chief justice on 21 March 1902,[2] upon the retirement of John Winfield Bonser, and took up the position on 26 April 1902.

He was one of the first chief justices produced by the local bar,[3] and served until he was succeeded by Joseph Turner Hutchinson in June 1906.