William Lea Chambers

William Lea Chambers (4 March 1852 – 26 August 1933) was a United States federal judge.

He was appointed Chief Justice of Samoa c.1897, where the English, Germans and Americans were sharing political influence under a tripartite agreement.

He was soon forced to adjudicate between rival local claimants to the kingship of Samoa, ruling on a legal technicality in favour of Chief Tanu.

A civil war ensued, which had to put down by British naval intervention, severely worsening relations between England and Germany, who had favoured the other claimant.

[1] In March 1913, he was appointed Commissioner of the United States Board of Mediation and Conciliation.