Humphrey O'Leary

Sir Humphrey Francis O'Leary KCMG QC (12 February 1886 – 16 October 1953) was the seventh Chief Justice of New Zealand, from 1946 to 1953.

The Right Honourable Sir Humphrey O'Leary KCMG QC
O'Leary in 1932
7th Chief Justice of New Zealand
In office 12 August 1946 – 16 October 1953
Nominated by	Peter Fraser
Appointed by	Lord Freyberg
Preceded by	Michael Myers
Succeeded by	Harold Barrowclough
Personal details
Born	Humphrey Francis O'Leary 12 February 1886 Redwoodtown, New Zealand
Died	16 October 1953(1953-10-16) (aged 67) Auckland, New Zealand

Early life and family

Born in Redwoodtown in the Wairau Valley, Marlborough, in 1886, his father, an Irish immigrant, was a blacksmith who had migrated to Masterton. When his father heard that one of his sons was not doing well at the local Catholic school, he sent his son to Masterton Public. From that time, although he remained faithful to the Catholic religion, Humphrey O'Leary attended state schools. He gained a Wellington Education Board scholarship and Queen's Scholarship in 1899, which enabled him to attend Wellington College. There his academic ability, outgoing personality and sporting prowess made him a popular student. The Queen's Scholarship also paid for three years at university and he enrolled in 1902 to study law at Victoria College.^[1]

In 1912, O'Leary married Lillian Gallagher, and the couple went on to have one son.^[1]

Legal career

O'Leary was awarded an LLB degree in 1908, and from 1908 to 1909 he was a New Zealand University rugby representative. He first worked for Wilford and Levi, a law firm, then went into partnership with a university friend Frank Kelly as O'Leary and Kelly. In 1919 he was invited to join the Wellington legal firm that would become known as Bell Gully. He was appointed a King's Counsel on 30 May 1935.^[2]

O'Leary was president of the Wellington Law Society from 1921 to 1922, and the New Zealand Law Society between 1935 and 1946. He also served on the Victoria University College Council and the University of New Zealand Senate. He was the Chief Justice of New Zealand from 1946 until his death in Auckland in 1953, aged 67.

Honours

O'Leary was made a King's Counsel in 1935, a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1947 New Year Honours,^[3] and Honourable Master of the Bench of the Inner Temple, London in 1948.

See also

• List of King's and Queen's Counsel in New Zealand