John Nodes Dickinson

Brief description

PER-12

Full description

John Nodes Dickinson was born in Grenada, West Indies on 1 January 1806 (1). He was educated at Fulham College and Cauis College at Cambridge (2). He received his Bachelors Degree in 1829 and his Masters Degree in 1832 (3). From 1832 to 1840 he practised as a special pledger. In 1840 his was called to the Bar at Middle Temple (4). Dickinson arrived in Sydney on 13 October 1844 as a Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (5). He had the honour of being the last Judge of the New South Wales Supreme Court appointed in England (6). As well as his judicial duties, Dickinson took a keen interest in public affairs, constitutional development and law reform (7). In May 1856 he was appointed to the first Legislative Council under responsible government (8). He resigned from the Council in March 1858 (9). From February 1860 to February 1861 he was acting Chief Justice of New South Wales (10). He was knighted in 1860 (11). Dickinson retired at the end of his term as acting Chief Justice and returned to England (12). He died on 16 March 1883 in Rome (13). Honours Received:
Knighted 1860 References:
(1) Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 4: 1851-1890, p.71
(2) Ibid
(3) Ibid
(4) Ibid
(5) Ibid
(6) Ibid
(7) Ibid
(8) Ibid
(9) Ibid
(10) Ibid
(11) Ibid
(12) Ibid
(13) Ibid

Notes

Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 13/10/1844 - 17/2/1861
Acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, 15/2/1860 - 17/2/1861