Rupert Alfred Kettle

Sir Rupert Alfred Kettle (9 January, 1817 – 6 October 1894) was an English county court judge born at Birmingham. His family had for some time been connected with the glass-staining business.

In 1845 he was called to the Bar, and in 1859 he was made judge of the Worcestershire county courts, becoming also a bencher of the Middle Temple (1882). He acted as arbitrator in several important strikes, and besides being the first president of the Midland iron trade wages board, he was largely responsible for the formation of similar boards in other staple trades. His name thus became identified with the organization of a system of arbitration between employers and employed, and in 1880 he was knighted for his services in this capacity.

In 1851 he married; one of his sons subsequently became a London police magistrate. Kettle died at Wolverhampton.

References

*1911