Adrian Knox

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sir Isaac Isaacs
Personal details
Born29 November 1863
Woollahra, New South Wales
, Australia
Spouse
Florence Lawson
​
(m. 1897)​
Parent

Sir Adrian Knox

PC KC (29 November 1863 – 27 April 1932) was an Australian lawyer and judge who served as the second Chief Justice of Australia
, in office from 1919 to 1930.

Knox was born in

taking silk in 1906 and appearing frequently in major constitutional cases. In 1919, he was somewhat unexpectedly nominated by Billy Hughes to succeed the retiring Samuel Griffith as Chief Justice. The most famous decision of his tenure was the Engineers case
of 1920.

Early life

Knox was born in Sydney on 29 November 1863, the son of Sir Edward Knox and the former Martha Rutledge. His mother was born in Ireland, and was the sister of the Victorian politician William Rutledge. His father was born in England, and was the founder of the Colonial Sugar Refining Company. Knox attended private schools in Sydney and was then sent to England to complete his education. After a period at Harrow School, he went on to study law at Trinity College, Cambridge, graduating in 1885. Shortly after, he was admitted to the Inner Temple, allowing him to practise as a barrister.[1]

Legal career

Adrian Knox
Knox caricatured in 1915

Knox returned to Australia in 1886 and joined his brother George in practising law. When George died in 1888, Adrian took over the practice, and soon became one of the most successful lawyers at the Sydney bar. Between 1888 and 1890, he reported equity cases for the New South Wales Law Reports.[1]

Knox was elected to the

Walter and Eliza Hall Trust.[1]

Knox was made a

horse-racing. In 1910, Knox's horse "Vavasor" won the Sydney Cup. He remained chairman until 1919. During World War I, Knox left his practice and traveled to Egypt, where he served as a Commissioner for the Red Cross. He served on the NSW Bar Council from its foundation in 1902 until 1910, and again from 1916 to 1919.[1]

Judicial career

Soon after Knox returned from

Boundary Commission for Northern Ireland. During his time as Chief Justice, Knox presided over such significant cases as the Engineers' case of 1920.[1]

Knox was one of six justices of the High Court to have served in the Parliament of New South Wales, along with Edmund Barton, Richard O'Connor, Albert Piddington, Edward McTiernan and H. V. Evatt.

In 1930, Knox was left half of the estate of his friend and mining magnate

Woollahra on 27 April 1932 and is interred in Waverley Cemetery. He was survived by his wife and three children.[1]

He was a book collector and his private library was considered one of the best in Sydney.[6]

Honours

In 1918, Knox was made a Companion of the

horse race named in honour of Knox which is held annually at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney
in September

References

  1. ^
    ISSN 1833-7538
    . Retrieved 11 February 2018.
  2. ^ Green, Antony. "1894 Woollahra". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  3. ^ Green, Antony. "1895 Woollahra". New South Wales Election Results 1856-2007. Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 21 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Sir Adrian Knox (1863-1932)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 20 June 2020.
  5. ISBN 978-0-19-554022-2
    .
  6. ISBN 9780646533407
    .
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Legal offices
Preceded by Chief Justice of Australia
1919–1930 		Succeeded by
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New seat Member for Woollahra
1894–1898 		Succeeded by
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