1. David Beattie was brought up by his mother in Takapuna, New Zealand, and educated at Dilworth School in Auckland.
19 Facts About David Beattie
1. 2.
In 1941, at age 17, David Beattie joined the army during the Second World War, and rose to the rank of sergeant before transferring to the Royal New Zealand Naval Volunteer Reserve as a sub-lieutenant.
3.
David Beattie played rugby union for New Zealand services teams in 1944 and 1945.
4.
In 1950, David Beattie married Norma Margaret Sarah Macdonald, and the couple had seven children.
5.
David Beattie was made a Queen's Counsel in 1964, and served as president of the Auckland District Law Society in 1965.
6.
In 1969, David Beattie was appointed as a Supreme Court judge, serving on the bench until 1980.
7.
On 1 August 1980 David Beattie was appointed as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George and was granted the right to retain the title of The Honourable for life.
8.
One of the roles of governor-general is to act as the Prior of Order of St John in New Zealand, and David Beattie was appointed as a Knight of the Order of St John of Jerusalem just prior to assuming the office of Governor-General of New Zealand.
9.
David Beattie was appointed as governor-general by Queen Elizabeth II on the advice of her New Zealand Prime Minister Robert Muldoon, his term of office beginning on 6 November 1980 and continuing until 10 November 1985.
10.
At the height of the Springbok tour of 1981, David Beattie met a delegation from Halt All Racist Tours.
11.
David Beattie promised to discuss their issues with the Prime Minister Robert Muldoon.
12.
David Beattie was ridiculed by supporters of the tour, and as a result, the prime minister refused to speak to the governor-general about his meeting with HART.
13.
David Beattie again caused controversy when he met with protesters trying to petition the Queen at the 1983 Waitangi Day celebrations, after the prime minister had blocked all petitions.
14.
David Beattie was heavily involved in sports administration, serving as New Zealand Olympic Committee president for 11 years.
15.
David Beattie was president of the Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association in 1989 and was president of the Sports Foundation twice.
16.
David Beattie's work was recognised with the award of the Olympic Order.
17.
David Beattie was patron of the New Zealand Rugby Union, the New Zealand Boxing Association, the New Zealand Squash Rackets Association, and the Legion of Frontiersmen Command.
18.
David Beattie was a keen golfer, tennis player and fisherman.
19.
In 1990, David Beattie was awarded the New Zealand 1990 Commemoration Medal.