NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Ninian Stephen

The Rt. Hon. Sir Ninian Martin Stephen KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE (born 15 June 1923), Australian judge and 20th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Oxfordshire, England, and migrated to Australia as a child. He was educated at the University of Melbourne, but his studies were interrupted by World War II, in which he served in the Australian Army in New Guinea and Borneo. He completed his legal studies in 1950, and was called to the Victorian Bar in 1952. By the 1960s he was one of Australia's leading constitutional and commercial lawyers. June 15 is the 166th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (167th in leap years), with 199 days remaining. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Governor-General of Australia is a position established by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act to sign legislation into law, appoint judges and ministers and perform many other important duties. ... Oxfordshire (abbreviated Oxon, from Latin Oxonia) is a county in South East England, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire and Warwickshire. ... ... The University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne, located in Melbourne, in Victoria, is the second oldest university in Australia (the University of Sydney is the oldest). ... World War II was a truly global conflict with many facets: immense human suffering, fierce indoctrinations, and the use of new, extremely devastating weapons like the atom bomb World War II, also known as the Second World War, was a mid-20th-century conflict that engulfed much of the globe... Borneo (politically divided between Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei) is the third largest island in the world. ... 1950 was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1970 Stephen was appointed a Justice of the High Court of Australia, and in the same year he was knighted. Although he was appointed by a Liberal government, he proved not to be a traditional conservative upholder of states' rights. He joined the "moderate centre" of the court, between the arch-conservatism of Sir Garfield Barwick and the radicalism of Lionel Murphy. In 1982 he was part of the majority that decided on a broad interpretation of the "external affairs power" of the Australian Constitution in the Koowarta case. 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... High Court entrance The High Court of Australia is the court of last resort for the jurisdiction of Australia. ... The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian liberal conservative political party. ... Sir Garfield Barwick, KBE, PC (1903–1997) was the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. ... Lionel Keith Murphy (30 August 1922 - 21 October 1986) was Attorney-General in the Government of Gough Whitlam, and a Justice of the High Court of Australia. ... 1982 is a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act 1900 (in full, An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia) is the primary constitutional text of the Commonwealth of Australia. ...

Later that year Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser appointed Stephen Governor-General. Like his predecessor, Sir Zelman Cowen, he was a "safe" choice: discreet, politically neutral and with a wide knowledge of constitutional law. When Fraser was defeated by the Labor Party under Bob Hawke in 1983, Stephen had no difficulty working with a Labor government. In 1987 Hawke extended his term by 18 months, to allow Bill Hayden (to whom Hawke had promised the position) to leave politics at a time of his choosing. Rt Hon Malcolm Fraser, AC, CH John Malcolm Fraser (born 21 May 1930), Australian politician and 22nd Prime Minister of Australia, came to power in the circumstances of the dismissal of the Whitlam government. ... Sir Zelman Cowen The Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen, KBE,PC,AC (born 7 October 1919), 19th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Melbourne. ... The Australian Labor Party or ALP is Australias oldest political party. ... Hon Bob Hawke Robert James Lee Hawke (born December 9, 1929), Australian trade union leader and politician, was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia. ... 1983 is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1987 is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hon Bill Hayden William George Hayden (born 23 January 1933), Australian politician and 21st Governor_General of Australia, was born in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of an American-born sailor of Irish descent. ...

Stephen was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1970, and sworn of the Privy Council in 1979. As Governor-General he was made a Knight of the Order of Australia, Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire. In 1994 the Queen appointed him a Knight of the Garter. Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand... 1970 was a common year starting on Thursday. ... A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, especially in a monarchy. ... This page refers to the year 1979. ... The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service. The Order was established on February 14, 1975, when Queen Elizabeth II, acting in her capacity of Queen of Australia, signed Letters Patent... On the Orders insignia, St Michael is often depicted subduing Satan. ... Commanders Badge of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V. The Order includes five classes in civil and military divisions, in decreasing order of seniority: Knight or Dame Grand... 1994 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International year of the Family. ... Queen Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is the Queen regnant of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and... A garter is one of the Orders most recognisable insignia. ...

Sir Zelman Cowen The Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen, KBE,PC,AC (born 7 October 1919), 19th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Melbourne. ... The Governor-General of Australia is a position established by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act to sign legislation into law, appoint judges and ministers and perform many other important duties. ... Hon Bill Hayden William George Hayden (born 23 January 1933), Australian politician and 21st Governor_General of Australia, was born in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of an American-born sailor of Irish descent. ...

Categories: 1923 births | Members of the Privy Council | Governors-General of Australia | Judges of High Court of Australia | Knights of the Garter | Members of the Order of Australia The Governor-General of Australia is a position established by the Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act to sign legislation into law, appoint judges and ministers and perform many other important duties. ... Australian National Flag For more information, see Australian Government, Flying the Flag - Its an Honour!. Created by User:E Pluribus Anthony File links The following pages link to this file: Australia Politics of Australia Ashmore and Cartier Islands Australian Labor Party Australian Democrats Australian Capital Territory Talk:Australian rules... The Marquess of Linlithgow, taken in 1902 when, as Earl of Hopetoun, he was Governor-general of Australia The Right Honourable The 1st Marquess of Linlithgow (John Adrian Louis Hope) ( 25 September 1860 - 29 February 1908 ), first Governor-General of Australia, was born at Queensferry, Linlithgowshire, Scotland, on 25 September... Lord Tennyson Hallam Tennyson, 2nd Baron Tennyson (11 August 1852-2 December 1928), second Governor-General of Australia, was born at Chapel House, Twickenham, in Surrey, England. ... Lord Northcote Henry Stafford Northcote, 1st Baron Northcote (18 November 1846-29 September 1911), third Governor-General of Australia, was born in London, the second son of the prominent Conservative politician Sir Stafford Northcote, later 1st Earl of Iddesleigh. ... Lord Dudley William Humble Ward, 2nd Earl of Dudley (25 May 1867 - 29 June 1932), Lord Lieutenant of Ireland and fourth Governor-General of Australia, was born in London and was educated at Eton. ... 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Lord Dunrossil William Shepherd Morrison, 1st Viscount Dunrossil (8 October 1893 - 3 February 1961), 14th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Scotland and educated at Edinburgh University. ... Lord De LIsle William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De LIsle (May 23, 1909 - April 5, 1991), 15th Governor-General of Australia, was the last British Governor-General. ... Lord Casey Richard Gardiner Casey, Baron Casey (29 August 1890 - 17 June 1976), Australian politician and diplomat and 16th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of a pastoralist and Queensland state politician of Irish descent. ... Sir Paul Meernaa Caedwalla Hasluck (1 April 1905 - 9 January 1993), Australian historian, public servant and politician, and 17th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Fremantle, Western Australia, into a family of Salvationists, whose values he retained throughout his career. ... Sir John Kerr The Right Honourable Sir John Robert Kerr, AK, GCMG, GCVO, QC (September 24, 1914 - April 7, 1991), Australian judge and 18th Governor-General of Australia. ... Sir Zelman Cowen The Right Honourable Sir Zelman Cowen, KBE,PC,AC (born 7 October 1919), 19th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Melbourne. ... Hon Bill Hayden William George Hayden (born 23 January 1933), Australian politician and 21st Governor_General of Australia, was born in Brisbane, Queensland, the son of an American-born sailor of Irish descent. ... Sir William Deane Sir William Patrick Deane, KBE, PC, AC (born 4 January 1931), Australian judge and 22nd Governor-General of Australia, was born in Melbourne, Victoria. ... Dr Peter Hollingworth The Right Reverend Dr Peter Hollingworth AC OBE (born April 10, 1935), Australian clergyman and 23rd Governor-General of Australia, became the first Governor-General to resign his office as a result of criticism of his conduct, when on 28 May 2003 he resigned following the release... Michael Jeffery His Excellency Major-General (Rtd) Philip Michael Jeffery, AC, CVO, MC (born 12 December 1937), 24th Governor-General of Australia, was born in Wiluna, Western Australia and was educated at state schools in Perth. ...