George John Robert Murray
The Honourable Sir George Murray | |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice of South Australia | |
| In office 20 January 1916 – 18 February 1942 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Samuel Way |
| Succeeded by | Sir Mellis Napier |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 September 1863 |
| Died | 18 March 1942 (aged 78) Magill, South Australia |
| Relations | Alexander Borthwick Murray (Father) |
| Alma mater | University of Adelaide Trinity College, Cambridge |
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 Australian State of South Australia. He was Chief Judge from 20 January 1916 until 18 February 1942.
Early life and education
George John Robert Murray was born on 27 September 1863 at Murray Park, Magill, 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.[1]
He was first educated at John L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution, then spent two years at the Royal High School, Edinburgh[2] and 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 BA degree in 1883, and won the South Australian Scholarship. This allowed him to study at the University of Cambridge, where he took his B.A. and LL.B. degrees, being bracketed senior in the law tripos in 1887.[3]
Murray also represented Cambridge in cricket and rowing.[1]
Career
Legal
Murray was held in high regard by the legal profession.[4]
Lieutenant Governor of South Australia
Murray administered the government of South Australia on numerous occasions in the absence of the Governor.[5]
Honours, later life, death, and legacy
Murray was created K.C.M.G. in 1917.[6]
He died at Adelaide following an operation for appendicitis on 18 February 1942; he was buried in St George's Church of England cemetery, Magill.[1]
In 1908 he endowed the University of Adelaide with £1,000 to establish the Tinline Scholarship in History in recognition of the family of his mother, born Margaret Tinline (c. 1823 – 17 August 1907).[7][8]
The heritage-listed George Murray Building, part of the Union Buildings at the university, designed by Woods, Bagot, Jory and Laybourne-Smith and built in 1937, was named after him.[9][10]
Every year at St. Peter's College the house with the highest performance and effort in house events is awarded the George Murray Shield.
References
- ^ a b c Alex C. Castles, 'Murray, Sir George John Robert (1863–1942)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol. 10, Melbourne University Press, 1986, pp 640–641. Retrieved 27 December 2013
- ^ "Death of Sir George Murray". The Advertiser. Adelaide. 19 February 1942. p. 4. Retrieved 1 September 2012 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "Murray, George John Robert (MRY884GJ)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
- ^ "Leaders in their fields". About the University. University of Adelaide. Archived from the original on 1 February 2009. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
- ^ "Table A: Governors and Administrators" (PDF). Parliament of South Australia. 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 27 December 2013.
- ^ Serle, Percival (1949). "Murray, George John Robert". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
- ^ "The Tinline Scholarship". The Register. Vol. LXXIII, no. 19, 147. Adelaide. 26 March 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 6 August 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ "The Tinline Scholarship". The Register (Adelaide). Vol. LXXIII, no. 19, 142. South Australia. 20 March 1908. p. 4. Retrieved 28 January 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ City of Adelaide (25 July 2002). "Assessment of heritage value: Union Building Group, Adelaide University" (PDF). File 17619.
- ^ "Union Building Group". City of Adelaide. Heritage Places of Adelaide. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
- Serle, Percival (1949). "Murray, George John Robert". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
- Emerson, Dr. John, First Among Equals – Chief Justices of South Australia Since Federation, University of Adelaide Barr Smith Press, Adelaide, 2004, pp 57–108.
External links
- Supreme Court History courts.sa.gov.au