Mellis Napier

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.


Sir Mellis Napier

KCMG KStJ QC
5th Chief Justice of South Australia
In office
25 February 1942  28 February 1967
Preceded bySir George Murray
Succeeded byJohn Bray
Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia
In office
30 April 1942  3 September 1973
Preceded bySir George Murray
Succeeded bySir Walter Crocker
Judge of the Supreme Court
of South Australia
In office
28 February 1924  28 February 1967
Preceded byJohn Gordon
Succeeded byJohn Bray
Chancellor of the University of Adelaide
In office
21 October 1947  29 September 1961
Preceded byWilliam Mitchell
Succeeded byGeorge Ligertwood
Personal details
Born(1882-10-24)24 October 1882
Dunbar, East Lothian, Scotland
Died22 March 1976(1976-03-22) (aged 93)
Kingswood, South Australia

Early life

He was born in Dunbar in East Lothian to Dr Alexander Disney Leith Napier FRSE and his wife Jessie Mellis. The family moved to London in 1887, where he attended the City of London School, and emigrated to Australia in 1896, Dr Alexander Napier having taken the post of senior resident physician at the Adelaide Hospital.[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]

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, following a state funeral, was cremated.[6]

Personal life

On 24 October 1908 Napier married Dorothy Bell Kay (died 1959) at Walkerville. They had three sons, one of whom was killed whilst serving with the Royal Australian Air Force in 1944.[1]

Honours

Dowie's bust of Mellis Napier

References

  1. "Biography - Sir Thomas John Mellis Napier - Australian Dictionary of Biography". adb.anu.edu.au. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  2. "Sir Mellis Napier, KCMG". SA History Hub. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  3. "No. 35557". The London Gazette. 12 May 1942. p. 2075.
  4. "Court Circular". Court and Social. The Times (49749). London. 10 January 1944. p. 6.
  5. "Order Of St. John". Official Appointments and Notices. The Times (51271). London. 5 January 1949. p. 7.
  6. "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.
  7. "No. 35841". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 29 December 1942. p. 2.
  8. "No. 36866". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 29 December 1944. p. 6.
  9. "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.
  10. "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
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