After practising on the North-Eastern Circuit from 1896 to 1904, Earnshaw went to the
Windward Islands where he served as magistrate at
Grenada, and as a member of the Legislative Council of the Windward Islands. In 1907, he went to
British Guiana where he served as stipendiary magistrate. While there he served as chairman of the Commission on
Queen's College, Georgetown and as sole commissioner on various hospital issues. In 1909, he was transferred to the
Gold Coast Colony where he held the appointment of Puisne Judge and served as chairman of the Commission to enquire into education questions. In 1912, he returned to British Guiana as Puisne Judge, and in the following year was appointed acting
Chief Justice, British Guiana. In 1914, Earnshaw was appointed Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court,
Straits Settlements,
Singapore and Judicial Commissioner of the
Federated Malay States. == Personal life and death ==