Sir Ninian Stephen | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 20th Governor-General of Australia | |
| In office 29 July 1982 – 16 February 1989 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Fraser Bob Hawke |
| Preceded by | Sir Zelman Cowen |
| Succeeded by | Bill Hayden |
| Justice of the High Court of Australia | |
| In office 1 March 1972 – 11 May 1982 | |
| Nominated by | Billy McMahon |
| Appointed by | Sir Paul Hasluck |
| Preceded by | Sir Victor Windeyer |
| Succeeded by | Sir William Deane |
| Judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria | |
| In office 30 June 1970 – 29 February 1972 | |
| Nominated by | Sir Henry Bolte |
| Appointed by | Sir Rohan Delacombe |
| Preceded by | Robert Monahan |
| Succeeded by | William Kaye |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Ninian Martin Stephen 15 June 1923 Nettlebed, Oxfordshire, England |
| Died | 29 October 2017 (aged 94) Melbourne, Australia |
| Spouse |
Valery Sinclair (m. 1949) |
| Children | 5 |
| Profession | Barrister, judge |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Second Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1941–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit | Royal Australian Artillery Royal Australian Engineers |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, KG, AK, GCMG, GCVO, KBE, PC, QC (15 June 1923 – 29 October 2017) was an English-born Australian judge who served as the 20th governor-general of Australia, in office from 1982 to 1989. He was previously a justice of the High Court of Australia from 1972 to 1982.[1]
Stephen was born in England to Scottish parents. As a child he lived for periods in France, Germany, Scotland, and Switzerland, eventually arriving in Australia at the age of 16. Stephen served with the Australian Army during World War II, and after the war entered the legal profession. He became one of Australia's leading constitutional lawyers. Stephen was appointed to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1970, and then to the High Court in 1972, aged 48. He was considered a member of the court's "moderate centre". In 1982, Stephen was appointed governor-general on the recommendation of Malcolm Fraser. He approved two double dissolutions during his time in office, the only governor-general to do so. After his term expired, Stephen remained active in public life as a conservationist and member of various international tribunals. He died at the age of 94, making him Australia's longest-lived governor-general.
- ^ High Court of Australia (2010). "About the Justices". Retrieved 7 May 2011.