Sir John Greig Latham Gcmg Pc Qc

Place: Melbourne

Born: 1877

Death: 1964

Biography:

John Greig Latham GCMG PC QC was an Australian lawyer, politician, and judge who served as the fifth Chief Justice of Australia, in office from 1935 to 1952. He had earlier served as Attorney-General of Australia under Stanley Bruce and Joseph Lyons, and was Leader of the Opposition from 1929 to 1931 as the final leader of the Nationalist Party. Latham was born in Melbourne and studied arts and law at the University of Melbourne. He became one of Victoria's best known barristers and served in the Royal Australian Navy during World War I. He was elected to parliament in 1922 as an independent and joined the Nationalist Party in 1925, subsequently serving as Attorney-General, Minister for Industry, and Leader of the Opposition. He led the Nationalists into the new United Australia Party in 1931 and served as Attorney-General and Minister for External Affairs under Joseph Lyons. He retired from politics in 1934 and was appointed to the High Court as Chief Justice. From 1940 to 1941, Latham took a leave of absence from the court to become the inaugural Australian Ambassador to Japan. He left office in 1952 after almost 17 years as Chief Justice; only Garfield Barwick has served for longer.