Dixon, Owen

Sir Owen Dixon, K.C.M. G. (1886-1972) is widely regarded as one of Australia's finest jurists. He was educated at the University of Melbourne and appointed acting-judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1926. He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in 1929, at the age of 43. Dixon performed a number of extra-judicial duties during World War 2, serving on the Central Wool Committee and other boards before being appointed as Australia's minister to the United States of America in 1942. He returned from that post in 1944, but in 1959 was again called on to serve away from the High Court when he was appointed as the United Nations representative to mediate between India and Pakistan over the disputed territory of Kashmir. Dixon was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia in 1952 to universal acclaim. He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George in 1954, and received many honorary doctorates from universities including Oxford and Harvard. Dixon retired from the High Court of Australia in 1964 and died in 1972 after a prolonged period of ill health.

From the description of Papers of Sir Owen Dixon, 1886-1986 [manuscript]. 1886-1986. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 457336270

Sir Owen Dixon, judge, was at Hawthorn and attended the University of Melbourne. He was admitted to the Bar in March 1910, appointed K.C. in 1922 and chief justice in 1952.

From the description of Letters : to Daryl Lindsay, 1956-1958. [manuscript]. 1956-1958. (Libraries Australia). WorldCat record id: 271174666