George Bowen Simpson

Brief description

PER-26

Full description

Sir George Bowen Simpson was born on 2 May 1838 at Oatlands. He was the son of Pierce Simpson (Police Magistrate) and Hester Elizabeth. He was educated at King’s School. (1) He was admitted to the bar on 8 November 1858, and rapidly developed a large practice. He was appointed a district court judge on 20 August 1867, and resigned on 31 July 1874. (2) He was appointed Crown Prosector in 1874. Simpson was appointed as a Government Representative to Legislative Council on 22 December 1885. He was Attorney – General from 22 December 1885 until 22 February 1886. He was Attorney – General again from 10 February 1888 until 16 January 1889, and 8 March 1889 until 22 October 1891 Simpson became a Q.C in 1886. On 10 September 1892 he resigned from the Legislative Council to act as Judge for the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He was reappointed to the Legislative Council in November 1892 until December 1894. He was reappointed as Attorney – General on 3 August 1894 and occupied that post until 1 December 1894. (3) On 18 December 1894 Simpson was appointed to the Supreme Court of New South Wales. He was knighted in 1909. Simpson was appointed judge in divorce in 1896. (4) He was acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales from 1 February 1909 until, 4 January 1910. Simpson also twice acted as Governor from 24 May 1909 until 28 May 1909, and 21 December 1909 until 27 January 1910. Simpson retired on 11 April 1910. (5) Simpson married Martha Margaret Cobcroft on 10 October 1861 and the couple had two children. Simpson died on 7 September 1915 in Sydney. (6) Endnotes:
(1) Australian Dictionary of Biography Vol.6 R-Z 1850 - 1891 University of Melbourne Press, Carlton 1966 -2000 p 127
(2) Holt, H.T.E. A court rises: the lives and times of the judges of the District Court of New South Wales (1859-1959): Law Foundation of New South Wales, Sydney, 1976. pp. 84 – 87
(3) NSW Parliamentary Record, 1824 - 1999, Sydney, The Clerk of the Parliaments, vol 6., 1st edn, 1999 pp.42, and 252 - 254
(4) Australian Dictionary of Biography op.cit p.127
(5) The New South Wales Law Almanac, 2005, Sydney, Government Printer, 1882 – pp,15, 20 and 25
(6) Australian Dictionary of Biography op.cit p.127 REFERENCES:
(1) The New South Wales Law Almanac, 1985, Sydney, Government Printer, 1882 -

Notes

District Court Judge 20/08/1867 – 31/7/1874
Crown Prosector 1874 – c. 1885
Government Representative to Legislative Council, 22/12/1885 – 25/09/1886
Attorney General 22/12/1885 – 25/02/1886, 10/2/1888 – 16/01/1889, 08/03/1889 – 22/10/1891, and 03/08/1894 – 01/12/1894
Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 18/12/1894 - 11/4/1910.
Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 01/2/1909 – 28/05/1909
Acting Governor 24/03/1909 – 28/05/1909, and 21/12/1909 – 27/01/1910