Sir William Seymour, Chief Justice of Bombay

Phillips's portrait of Sir William Seymour, Chief Justice of Bombay from 1829, held at Oriel College Oxford, documents a figure from the colonial legal establishment whose appointment as Chief Justice represented the extension of British legal institutions across the Indian subcontinent. The Bombay Presidency's legal system was a key component of British colonial governance, and Seymour's portrait at Oriel—the Oxford college with particular connections to the legal profession—reflected the academic background typical of senior colonial officials. The combination of colonial service and Oxford connection placed Seymour within the administrative elite whose documentary portraits Phillips produced throughout his career.

The judicial portrait conveys authority through formal pose and the gravitas of expression. Phillips renders the features with careful individual attention, while the costume and any judicial accoutrements establish the sitter's official role. The Oriel College location connects the colonial judge to his academic formation.