Mellis Napier


Sir Thomas John Mellis Napier 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.

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.
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.

Legal career

In 1912 he resuscitated the Law Society of South Australia, and served as its Vice President in 1923. On 30 April 1942 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia.
He was knighted in 1943 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.
He died on 22 March 1976 at Kingswood, South Australia and, following a state funeral, was cremated.

Personal life

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

Honours