Robert Molesworth (judge)
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Molesworth was an Irish
-born Australia
n Chief Justice
and Solicitor-General.
. Robert attended Trinity College, Dublin
where he graduated B.A.
in 1826 and M.A. in 1833. After he was called to the bar in 1828, he practised law until he emigrated to Australia in 1852. He married in 1840.
the Molesworths soon moved to Melbourne and he quickly established a large legal practice. On 27 January 1853 Molesworth was acting chief justice during the illness of Sir William à Beckett
. On 17 June 1856 he was appointed a Supreme Court judge. Most of his time was presiding over equity cases.
Molesworth was also chief judge of the Court of Mines, in this capacity he achieved much in settling the previously confused state of the law.
In 1854 he was nominated to the Victorian Legislative Council
.
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-born 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 Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
and Solicitor-General.
Early life
Molesworth was born in Dublin, the son of Hickman Blayney Molesworth, a solicitor; he was descended from Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount MolesworthRobert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth
Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth PC came of an old Northamptonshire family. He married Letitia Coote, daughter of Richard Coote, 1st Lord Coote of Coloony and Mary St. George.His father Robert Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth PC (7 September 1656 – 22 May 1725) came of an old...
. Robert attended Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
where he graduated 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...
in 1826 and M.A. in 1833. After he was called to the bar in 1828, he practised law until he emigrated to Australia in 1852. He married in 1840.
Legal and political career
After initially arriving in AdelaideAdelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
the Molesworths soon moved to Melbourne and he quickly established a large legal practice. On 27 January 1853 Molesworth was acting chief justice during the illness of Sir William à Beckett
William à Beckett
Sir William à Beckett was a British barrister and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.-Background:Born in London, he was the eldest son of William à Beckett, also a solicitor...
. On 17 June 1856 he was appointed a Supreme Court judge. Most of his time was presiding over equity cases.
Molesworth was also chief judge of the Court of Mines, in this capacity he achieved much in settling the previously confused state of the law.
In 1854 he was nominated to the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
.