25 Facts About Edward McTiernan

Edward McTiernan served on the High Court of Australia from 1930 to 1976, the longest-serving judge in the court's history.

Edward McTiernan graduated from the University of Sydney in 1915, and was called to the bar the following year.

Edward McTiernan served as attorney-general under John Storey, James Dooley, and Jack Lang, but left state politics in 1927.

Edward McTiernan was elected to the House of Representatives in 1929, but served for little over a year before Prime Minister James Scullin nominated him to the High Court.

Edward McTiernan generally favoured the position of the federal government, upholding the constitutionality of contentious legislation from both sides of politics.

Edward McTiernan retired reluctantly at the age of 84, after just under 46 years on the High Court bench.

Edward McTiernan lived to the age of 97, and was the last surviving MP from the 1920s.

Edward McTiernan was born in Glen Innes, New South Wales, the second of three sons born to Isabella and Patrick Edward McTiernan.

Edward McTiernan's parents were Irish Catholic immigrants; his father worked as a policeman.

Edward McTiernan began his education at Metz Public School, located in a small settlement west of Hillgrove.

Edward McTiernan completed his education at Catholic schools, Christian Brothers' High School, Lewisham, and St Mary's Cathedral College.

Edward McTiernan left school in 1908 initially lacking the funds to attend university, instead joining the Commonwealth Public Service as a clerk.

Edward McTiernan eventually began studying part-time at the University of Sydney, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1912.

Edward McTiernan was called to the bar the following year and was taken on as an associate of Justice George Rich, whom he would eventually join on the High Court.

Edward McTiernan was rejected for military service during World War I due to an arm fracture sustained in childhood that had never properly healed.

Edward McTiernan served in the ministry as Attorney-General of New South Wales from April 1920 to April 1922 and again from June 1925 to May 1927, He was heavily involved in Premier Jack Lang's attempt to abolish the New South Wales Legislative Council.

Edward McTiernan retired from the Assembly in 1927 and took up a position as a law lecturer with his alma mater.

Edward McTiernan was the sole dissenter in Attorney-General ex rel Dale v Commonwealth, which struck down the Chifley government's Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and triggered a constitutional amendment.

Edward McTiernan served under five Chief Justices - Sir Isaac Isaacs, Sir Frank Gavan Duffy, Sir John Latham, Sir Owen Dixon and Sir Garfield Barwick, and was knighted himself in 1951.

Edward McTiernan was a member of the High Court for 46 years, making him the longest-serving judge in its history.

Edward McTiernan had no intention of resigning from the bench even into the 1970s, but, after breaking a hip at the age of 84 in 1976 while chasing a cricket in his hotel with a rolled up newspaper, Chief Justice Barwick's refusal to include a wheelchair ramp in the design of the new High Court building prompted his retirement.

Edward McTiernan was effectively granted the powers of a Royal Commissioner.

Edward McTiernan's inquiry is the third and most recent occasion on which a sitting High Court judge was called upon to investigate a matter on behalf of the federal government.

Edward McTiernan did not marry until the age of 56, wedding Kathleen Lloyd on 27 December 1948 at St Roch's Catholic Church, Glen Iris, Melbourne.

Edward McTiernan died in Turramurra, Sydney, on 9 January 1990, at the age of 97.