Background
Irvine was born in Newry in County Down, Ireland, into a Scottish-Presbyterian family. He was the nephew of Irish revolutionary John Mitchel.
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William Hill IRVINE
Edit ProfileEducation
Studied at Royal School, Armagh. Trinity College, Dublin. Bachelor of Arts Dublin.
Master of Arts, Master of Laws, Melbourne.
Doctor of Laws.
Career
He soon became a leading Melbourne barrister. In 1894, Irvine was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly as a liberal. He was Attorney-General 1899–1900 and 1902-1903 and Solicitor-General in 1903.
He succeeded George Turner as leader of the Victorian Liberals, but was much more conservative than either Turner or the federal Protectionist Party leader, Alfred Deakin.
In 1902 he displaced the more liberal Alexander Peacock and became Premier and Treasurer, holding office until 1904, when he was succeeded by Thomas Bent. In 1906, Irvine was elected to the Australian House of Representatives for the seat of Flinders.
He was Attorney-General in Joseph Cook"s Liberal government of 1913-1914. Recognising this, Irvine accepted the appointment as the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, which is the highest ranking court in the Australian State of Victoria.
He held this position from 1918 until 1935.
He was knighted Knight Commander of the Order of Street Michael and Saint George in 1914 and made Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Street Michael and Street George in 1936. On appointment 10 June 1902:
Premier and Attorney-General: William Irvine
Treasurer: William Shiels
Solicitor-General: John Mark Davies
Minister of Railways: Thomas Bent
Minister of Education and Health: Robert Reid
Minister of Public Works and Agriculture: Mr. Taverner
President of Board of Lands: Mr.
McKenzie
Minister of Mines: Mr.
Cameron
Chief Secretary and Minister of Labour: Mr.
Achievements
Politics
He was considered a potential Prime Minister of Australia, but his abrupt manner and hard-line conservatism made him unacceptable to many Liberals: he was known in Parliament as "Iceberg Irvine.".
Membership
First elected as an independent Protectionist, he became a member of Deakin"s Commonwealth Liberal Party in 1908. A keen motorist, he was a founding member of the Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) and was its patron from 1938 through 1943.
Connections
Spouse 1891, Agnes Somerville, daughter of Honourable T. Doctorate. Wanliss, Member of Legislative Council
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Born
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Died
August 20, 1943 (aged 85) -
Nationality
Australia -
Political Party
Commonwealth Liberal Party
Awards
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Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George; Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Archibald Prize
The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia.The Archibald Prize is regarded as the most important portraiture prize in Australia.