10 Facts About Mellis Napier

Mellis Napier was a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia, Chief Justice of South Australia, and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide.

Thomas John Mellis Napier was born in Dunbar in East Lothian to Dr Alexander Disney Leith Napier FRSE and his wife Jessie Mellis.

The family moved to London in 1887, where he attended the City of London School, and emigrated to Australia in 1896, Alexander Napier having taken the post of senior resident physician at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.

Thomas Mellis Napier studied law at the University of Adelaide, graduating LLB in 1902.

Mellis Napier was appointed judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia in 28 February 1924, serving until 28 February 1967, and served as Chief Justice of South Australia from 25 February 1942 until 28 February 1967.

In 1964, Mellis Napier presided over the trial of Glen Sabre Valance, the last man hanged in South Australia.

In 1912, together with Thomas Poole, Mellis Napier resuscitated the Law Society of South Australia, and served as its vice president in 1923.

Mellis Napier was Chancellor of the University of Adelaide from 1948 to 1961.

On 24 October 1908 Mellis Napier married Dorothy Bell Kay at Walkerville.

Mellis Napier died on 22 March 1976 at Kingswood, South Australia and, following a state funeral, was cremated.