Mellis Napier
| The Honourable Sir Mellis Napier KCMG KStJ QC | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 5th Chief Justice of South Australia | |
|
In office 25 February 1942 – 28 February 1967 | |
| Preceded by | Sir George Murray |
| Succeeded by | John Bray |
| Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia | |
|
In office 30 April 1942 – 1973 | |
| Preceded by | Sir George Murray |
| Succeeded by | Sir Walter Crocker |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
24 October 1882 Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland |
| Died |
22 March 1976 (aged 93) Kingswood, South Australia |
Sir Thomas John Mellis Napier KCMG KStJ QC (24 October 1882 – 22 March 1976) was a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia between 28 February 1924 and 28 February 1967, Chief Justice of South Australia from 25 February 1942 until 28 February 1967 and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.
Early life
He was born in Dunbar in East Lothian the son of Dr Alexander Disney Leith Napier FRSE and his wife Jessie Mellis. The family moved to London in 1887 and emigrated to Australia in 1896.[1]
He studied Law at the University of Adelaide graduating LLB in 1902. In 1903 he became Managing Clerk for "Kingston & McLachlan" and became a partner with McLachlan in 1906.[1] On 24 October 1908 he married Dorothy Bell Kay (died 1959) at Walkerville.
Legal career
In 1912 (together with Thomas Poole) he resuscitated the Law Society of South Australia, and served as its Vice President in 1923.[2] On 30 April 1942 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia.[3]
He was knighted in 1943[4] and became a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1945. He was appointed a Knight of the Venerable Order of St John in 1949.[5]
He died on 22 March 1976 at Kingswood, South Australia and was cremated.[6]
Honours
- Knight Bachelor (1943).[7]
- Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG; 1945).[8]
- King George V Silver Jubilee Medal (1935).
- King George VI Coronation Medal (1937).
- Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal (1953).[9]
- Knight of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ; 1949).[10]
- The Napier Mountains were named by Sir Douglas Mawson after the Hon. Sir John Mellis Napier. The Napier Mountains were first charted in January 1930 by the British Australian New Zealand Antarctic Research Expedition under Mawson.
- His bust by John Dowie stands near the gates of Government House in Adelaide.
References
- 1 2 "Biography - Sir Thomas John Mellis Napier - Australian Dictionary of Biography". adb.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ↑ "Sir Mellis Napier, KCMG". SA History Hub. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
- ↑ "No. 35557". The London Gazette. 12 May 1942. p. 2075.
- ↑ "Court Circular". Court and Social. The Times (49749). London. 10 January 1944. p. 6. (Subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "Order Of St. John". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times (51271). London. 5 January 1949. p. 7. (Subscription required (help)).
- ↑ "OBITUARY Sir Mellis Napier". The Canberra Times. 50, (14, 335). Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 March 1976. p. 9. Retrieved 5 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "No. 35841". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 29 December 1942. p. 2.
- ↑ "No. 36866". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 29 December 1944. p. 6.
- ↑ "S.A. Coronation Medal List". The Advertiser. 95, (29, 527). South Australia. 2 June 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 5 March 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
- ↑ "No. 38503". The London Gazette. 4 January 1949. p. 81.
| Legal offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir George Murray |
Chief Justice of South Australia 1942–1967 |
Succeeded by John Bray |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir George Murray |
Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia 1942–1973 |
Succeeded by Sir Walter Crocker |
| Academic offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir William Mitchell |
Chancellor of the University of Adelaide 1948–1961 |
Succeeded by Sir George Ligertwood |
Authority control  |
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