Gordon Samuels | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 36th Governor of New South Wales | |
| In office 1 March 1996 – 1 March 2001 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Premier | Bob Carr |
| Lieutenant | Murray Gleeson (1996–1998) James Spigelman (1998–2001) |
| Preceded by | Peter Sinclair |
| Succeeded by | Marie Bashir |
| Judge of the New South Wales Supreme Court | |
| In office 20 November 1972 – 23 March 1992 | |
| Judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal | |
| In office 12 August 1974 – 23 March 1992 | |
| 4th Chancellor of the University of New South Wales | |
| In office 1976–1994 | |
| Preceded by | Sir Robert Webster |
| Succeeded by | Sir Anthony Mason |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 August 1923 London, England |
| Died | 10 December 2007 (aged 84) Sydney, Australia |
| Spouse | Jacqueline Kott |
| Alma mater | Balliol College, Oxford |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1942–1946 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | 96th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
Gordon Jacob Samuels, AC, CVO, QC (12 August 1923 – 10 December 2007) was a British-Australian lawyer and judge who served as the 36th Governor of New South Wales from 1996 to 2001.
Born in London in 1923, Samuels was educated at University College School and Balliol College, Oxford. After serving in the Second World War, he was called to the bar and emigrated to Australia in 1949. Serving as a barrister in Sydney, Samuels was made a Queen's Counsel in 1964 and appointed as a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1972.
Samuels was later appointed a Judge of the New South Wales Court of Appeal in 1974, serving till his mandatory retirement in 1993, aged 70. A member of the University of New South Wales Council from 1969, Samuels was appointed Chancellor of the University of New South Wales in 1976, serving until 1994, being the longest-serving Chancellor. On retirement from law, Samuels became Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of New South Wales, a position he held until he was appointed governor in 1996. As Governor of New South Wales, he endured significant controversy over the decision not to reside in Government House, Sydney. Despite this he served with distinction and retired in March 2001. He died aged 84 in December 2007.[1]