William Ritchie (barrister)

The Thackeray family from Hadley had a long association with India, and her nephew was the novelist.

His father John was the director of a bank that failed in November 1841, causing the Ritchie family to leave for the continent, to escape creditors.

[2] He looked to the legal system of British India where he could earn an immediate income, rather than staying in London hoping for briefs.

Ritchie had a popular reputation for his gentle, amiable, overly-polite manner and his honourable character.

Ritchie proposed to Augusta Trimmer on 28 August 1842 before sailing for India on 1 September on the Prince of Wales.