George John Robert Murray
Encyclopedia
Sir George John Robert Murray KCMG
(27 September 1863 – 18 February 1942) was a judge from 2 April 1913 until 18 February 1942 on the Supreme Court of South Australia
, which is the highest ranking court
in the Australia
n State
of South Australia
. He was Chief Judge
from 20 January 1916 until 18 February 1942.
, near Adelaide, the second surviving son of Alexander Borthwick Murray, a pioneer sheep-breeder and South Australia politician, and his second wife Margaret, née Tinline. George Murray and was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
, where he won the Prankerd, Wyatt, Christchurch and Farrell scholarships. At the University of Adelaide
Murray won the John Howard Clark scholarship for English literature in 1882, qualified for the B.A.
degree in 1883, and won a South Australian scholarship. Murray then studied at the University of Cambridge
where he took his B.A. and LL.B.
degrees, being bracketed senior in the law tripos
in 1887.
Murray also represented Cambridge in cricket
and rowing.
at the Inner Temple in 1888, returned to South Australia and was associate to Sir Samuel Way
until 1891, when he began practising as a barrister. He was soon successful, and in 1906 became a K.C.
, the first Adelaide graduate to obtain this distinction. In 1909 he paid a visit to England
and took his LL.M.
degree, and in 1912 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia
. He had been on the council of the university since 1891, and in 1915 was appointed vice-chancellor. In 1916 he succeeded Sir Samuel Way as chief justice of South Australia and later the same year became chancellor of the university. His interest in educational problems and the university was shown in many ways, and his benefactions included £1000 for the building fund of the university in 1920, £2000 for general purposes in 1931, and £10,000 for a men's union building in 1936. He also renounced his life interest in the estate of his sister the value of which was estimated at £45,000. This was left to the university in 1936. Murray visited Europe again in 1935, and died at Adelaide following an operation for appendicitis
on 18 February 1942; he was buried privately beside his sister in St George's Church of England cemetery, Magill. He was created K.C.M.G.
in 1917. He was unmarried.
Every year at Saint Peter's College the house with the highest performance and effort in house events is awarded the George Murray shield.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(27 September 1863 – 18 February 1942) was a judge from 2 April 1913 until 18 February 1942 on the Supreme Court of South Australia
Supreme Court of South Australia
The Supreme Court of South Australia is the superior court for the Australian State of South Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest South Australian court in the Australian court...
, which is the highest ranking court
Australian court hierarchy
There are two streams within the hierarchy of Australian courts, the federal stream and the state and territory stream. While the federal courts and the court systems in each state and territory are separate, the High Court of Australia remains the ultimate court of appeal for the Australian...
in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n State
States and territories of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a union of six states and various territories. The Australian mainland is made up of five states and three territories, with the sixth state of Tasmania being made up of islands. In addition there are six island territories, known as external territories, and a...
of South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. He was Chief Judge
Chief judge
Chief Judge is a title that can refer to the highest-ranking judge of a court that has more than one judge. The meaning and usage of the term vary from one court system to another...
from 20 January 1916 until 18 February 1942.
Early life
George John Robert Murray was born at Murray Park, MagillMagill, South Australia
Magill is a suburb of Adelaide in the City of Burnside and the City of Campbelltown.-History:Magill is a suburb located approximately 7 km from the Adelaide CBD in the eastern suburbs. Magill was first established as the Makgill Estate, owned by two Scots, Robert Cock and William Ferguson,...
, near Adelaide, the second surviving son of Alexander Borthwick Murray, a pioneer sheep-breeder and South Australia politician, and his second wife Margaret, née Tinline. George Murray and was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, Adelaide
St Peter's College, , is an independent boy's school in the South Australian capital of Adelaide...
, where he won the Prankerd, Wyatt, Christchurch and Farrell scholarships. At the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
Murray won the John Howard Clark scholarship for English literature in 1882, qualified for the B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree in 1883, and won a South Australian scholarship. Murray then studied at the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
where he took his B.A. and LL.B.
Bachelor of Laws
The Bachelor of Laws is an undergraduate, or bachelor, degree in law originating in England and offered in most common law countries as the primary law degree...
degrees, being bracketed senior in the law tripos
Tripos
The University of Cambridge, England, divides the different kinds of honours bachelor's degree by Tripos , plural Triposes. The word has an obscure etymology, but may be traced to the three-legged stool candidates once used to sit on when taking oral examinations...
in 1887.
Murray also represented Cambridge in cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and rowing.
Legal career
Murray was called to the barCall to the bar
The Call to the Bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party, and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received a "call to the bar"...
at the Inner Temple in 1888, returned to South Australia and was associate to Sir Samuel Way
Samuel Way
Sir Samuel James Way, 1st Baronet , English-Australian jurist, was a Chief Justice from 18 March 1876 until 8 January 1916 of the Supreme Court of South Australia, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of South Australia.Way was born in Portsmouth, England, in 1836...
until 1891, when he began practising as a barrister. He was soon successful, and in 1906 became a K.C.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
, the first Adelaide graduate to obtain this distinction. In 1909 he paid a visit to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and took his LL.M.
Master of Laws
The Master of Laws is an advanced academic degree, pursued by those holding a professional law degree, and is commonly abbreviated LL.M. from its Latin name, Legum Magister. The University of Oxford names its taught masters of laws B.C.L...
degree, and in 1912 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia
Supreme Court of South Australia
The Supreme Court of South Australia is the superior court for the Australian State of South Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest South Australian court in the Australian court...
. He had been on the council of the university since 1891, and in 1915 was appointed vice-chancellor. In 1916 he succeeded Sir Samuel Way as chief justice of South Australia and later the same year became chancellor of the university. His interest in educational problems and the university was shown in many ways, and his benefactions included £1000 for the building fund of the university in 1920, £2000 for general purposes in 1931, and £10,000 for a men's union building in 1936. He also renounced his life interest in the estate of his sister the value of which was estimated at £45,000. This was left to the university in 1936. Murray visited Europe again in 1935, and died at Adelaide following an operation for appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
on 18 February 1942; he was buried privately beside his sister in St George's Church of England cemetery, Magill. He was created K.C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1917. He was unmarried.
Summary and legacy
Murray had a reserved manner, at times giving the impression that he was cold in his outlook. However, this was not the case as Murray was in reality warm-hearted, broad-minded, and generous, always anxious to assist deserving causes so long as it could be done without ostentation. As chancellor of the university for 25 years, he was held in honour and affection by teaching staff and students alike. As a counsel Murray was not a dramatic pleader, but was clear and systematic in his presentation of technical cases, and masterly in the marshalling of his arguments, excelling in equity cases. As a judge he showed himself to be an able lawyer with a wide knowledge of human nature, encouraging timid witnesses, and dealing firmly with those of a prevaricating or shifty character. His outlook at times may have seemed severe, but this came from his determination to carry out the law, and he was always diligent and painstaking. He was much esteemed by the legal profession. He was lieutenant-governor of South Australia for practically the whole period of his chief justiceship, on many occasions administered the government, and his experience was always available to incoming governors. He sought neither praise nor public approval, but at the time of his death he was the most distinguished South Australian of his period.Every year at Saint Peter's College the house with the highest performance and effort in house events is awarded the George Murray shield.
External links
- Supreme Court History courts.sa.gov.au