Gordon Jacob Samuels AO CVO QC (1923 - 2007)

Born 12 Aug 1923 in City of London, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 10 Dec 2007 at age 84 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

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Biography

Gordon Samuels AO CVO QC is Notable.

Preceded by Rear Admiral Peter Sinclair AC RAN

36th Governor of New South Wales 1 Mar 1996 to 1 Mar 2001

Succeeded by Professor The Hon. Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

The Right Honourable Gordon Samuels AC CVO KStJ QC was a Lithuanian-British-Australian lawyer, judge and the governor.

Formative Years

Gordon Samuels AO CVO QC has Jewish Roots.

Gordon Jacob Samuels was born on 12th August 1923 at Cricklewood, London, England, to a family of Jewish origin.^[1] His grandfather, Jacob Samuels, left Lithuania for Edinburgh, Scotland, and then travelled to Australia and married Mary Michaelson, whom he had met in Edinburgh. They ran a general store in Walcha, New South Wales, where Samuels' father, Harry Samuels, was born. Harry ran a cinema in Moree before going to war in France with his brother, Lou, who was awarded the Military Cross. Harry married Zelda Glass after the war and they settled in Cricklewood, London, where Samuels was born. Samuels was educated at University College School and Balliol College, University of Oxford. At Oxford he was awarded the degree of Master of Arts.^[2]

Military Service

Gordon Samuels AO CVO QC is a Military Veteran.
Served in the British Army 1942-1946
96th Field Regiment (Royal Devon Yeomanry)

After the Second World War broke out, he joined the British Army, in 1942, serving in the Royal Artillery in the 96th Field Regiment (Royal Devon Yeomanry), achieving his commission as captain. Serving in Northern Ireland, India and Malaya, Samuels was demobilised in 1946. He was awarded the Defence Medal and War Medal for his service.^[2]

Legal Career

Entering the legal profession, Samuels was called to the bar at Inner Temple in 1948. The following year he emigrated to Australia and worked as a clerk for Dawson Waldron Edwards and Nicholls (now Ashurst Australia). Called to the New South Wales bar in 1952, Samuels gained a reputation as being a "persuasive advocate and destructive cross-examiner".^[2]

In 1964, he was appointed Queen's Counsel for New South Wales and later for Victoria in 1965. In 1971, Samuels was elected as the president of the New South Wales Bar Association, in which capacity he served until 1972. 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. On 8th June 1987, Samuels was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for "service to learning, to the community and to law". In 1992 the Samuels Building was opened on the UNSW Kensington campus. This new research building was named in his and his wife's honour in recognition of their services to the university since 1976. In 1977 Samuels was awarded the Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal. He was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1987.^[3]

He married Jacqueline Kott in 1957 at Sydney.^[4] They had two daughters.^[2]

Vice-Regal Appointment

The appointment of Samuels as governor of New South Wales in 1996 was followed by some controversy, not because of any doubt about his qualifications, but because of the accompanying announcement by the premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr that Samuels would not live or work at Government House, Sydney and that he would retain his appointment as Chairman of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission, thus reducing the office of governor to part-time. He was created Knight of Justice of the Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem (KStJ).^[2]

Retirement

In 2000, Samuels was appointed Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO).^[2]

Following his vice-regal retirement, Samuels resumed his activities in the Law Reform Commission, serving as a part-time commissioner from 2001 to 2007.^[2]

He passed away of a cancer-related illness on 10th December 2007, survived by his wife, Jaqueline, his their daughters, Deborah and Selina, and grandchildren, Rebecca and Samuel.^[2] His ashes were placed at Eastern Suburbs Memorial Park, Matraville, New South Wales.^[5]

Samuels requested not to be given a state funeral.

Sources

1. ↑ UK FreeBMD Birth Index Sep qtr 1923, vol 3a, page 548; registered at Willesden
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7} Wikipedia profile: Gordon Samuels; accessed 29 Sep 2019
3. ↑ Australian Honours: Companion of the Order of Australia; accessed 29 Sep 2019
4. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #7752/1957
5. ↑ Stephens, Tony 13 Dec 2007, Funeral service today for Samuels; accessed 29 Sep 2019