Kenneth Bailey (lawyer)

Sir Kenneth Hamilton Bailey CBE QC (3 November 1898 – 3 May 1972) was a senior Australian public servant and lawyer, best known for his time as Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department between 1946 and 1964.

Sir Kenneth Bailey CBE QC
Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department
In office 9 May 1946 – 2 February 1964
Preceded by	Sir George Knowles
Succeeded by	Ted Hook
Personal details
Born	Kenneth Hamilton Bailey (1898-11-03)3 November 1898 Canterbury, Victoria, Australia
Died	3 May 1972(1972-05-03) (aged 73) Canberra, Australia
Spouse	Editha Olga Bailey ​ (m. 1925)​
Children	Peter Bailey
Alma mater	University of Melbourne Corpus Christi College, Oxford
Occupation	Public servant, lawyer

Life and career

Kenneth Bailey was born on 3 November 1898 in Canterbury, Victoria.^[1] He was dux of his high school, Wesley College, in 1916.^[2] He was Victoria's Rhodes Scholar for 1918, a feat later emulated by his son. Both attended Corpus Christi College, Oxford.^[3]

In 1927, Bailey was appointed professor of jurisprudence at the University of Melbourne; the following year becoming the first Australia-born dean of the law school.^[4]

Between 1946 and 1964, Bailey was Solicitor-General of Australia and Secretary of the Attorney-General's Department.^[1] During his time as Solicitor-General, Bailey officially opened the Australian Police College in Barton on 25 October 1960.^[5]

Bailey died on 3 May 1972 in Canberra and was cremated. His son, Peter Hamilton Bailey, was also a public servant, as well as a human rights academic.^[1]

Awards and honours

Bailey was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in June 1953 whilst Permanent Head of the Attorney-General's Department.^[6] He was knighted in 1958.^[7]

In 1972, the University of Melbourne awarded Bailey an honorary doctorate at a special conferring ceremony at Canberra Hospital.^[2] The degree was conferred to recognize his distinguished service to the university.^[8]