Francis Patrick Donovan

Background

Donovan, Francis Patrick was born on February 1, 1922 in Ingham, Queensland, Australia. Son of John Francis and Mabel (Pryor) Donovan.

Education

Bachelor of Laws, Law School, Queensland, 1946; Master of Arts, Jurisprudence School, Oxford, England, 1948; Bachelor of Civil Law, Jurisprudence School, Oxford, England, 1949; Master of Laws, Law School, Adelaide, Australia, 1951; Master of Laws, Law School, Melborune, Australia, 1953.

Career

After retirement from the Diplomatic Service, he became a Vice-Chairman of the International Court of Arbitration. After joining the Australian Militia at the beginning of World World War II whilst at University, he then served in the 2nd Australian Imperial Force, where he was commissioned into the 55th/53rd Battalion and served as the battalion"s Adjutant later in the war. On returning from the United States, Donovan became a Reader in Law at the University of Adelaide.

In 1952, he was appointed Chair of Commercial Law at Melbourne University by his friend Zelman Cowen, who would later serve as 19th Governor General of Australia.

During this time, he was a visiting professor at Columbia Law School and was President of the Melbourne University Staff Association. In 1953, the University granted him a Master of Laws degree.

Whilst at Melbourne, Donovan published key case books for Australian Commercial law, and one publication "Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: An Introduction to Australian Commercial Principles" was printed 6 times. Throughout his life he was also a Barrister of the Supreme Courts of Victoria and Queensland.

In 1961, Donovan resigned from his Chair in the Melbourne Law School to join the diplomatic service, specialising as a trade representative.

His appointments began as a Commercial Counsellor at the Australian Embassy in Rome, and then becoming a Minister (Commercial) in the Department of Foreign Trade, Commercial Adviser to the Australian High Commission, London, and Deputy Head of the Australian mission to the European Economic Community. After leaving the mission at the European Economic Community, he was appointed Ambassador and Permanent Representative from Australia to the Organization of European Cooperation and Development, serving from 1977–1980. After leaving Paris, Donovan was made Special Trade Delegate to the United Nations Office at Geneva from 1980–1982 whilst retaining his honorific title of Ambassador.

In Geneva, and in retirement, he remained a consulted expert on the General Agreement of Tariff and Trades.

In 1994, he became a Vice-Chairman of the Court, and for this service was created a Chevalier in the Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur"Honneur in 1998.

Donovan died on 3 February 2012, aged 90, in Paris, France, and was buried in the ground of Magdalen College, Oxford.

Achievements

• Francis Patrick Donovan has been listed as a noteworthy diplomat by Marquis Who's Who.

Works

• book

  • Signed Sealed and Delivered, an Introduction to Australian Commercial Principles
  • Signed, sealed, and delivered: An introduction to Australian commercial principles

Membership

After retiring from the Diplomatic Service, Donovan retired to Paris, France and became a member of the International Court of Arbitration.

Connections

Married Maria Kozslik. Children: Patrick, Daisy.

Father:

John Francis Donovan

Mother:

Mabel (Pryor) Donovan

Spouse:

Maria Kozslik

child:

Patrick Donovan

child:

Daisy Donovan