Robert Molesworth (judge)

Sir Robert Molesworth (3 November 1806 – 18 October 1890) was an Irish-born Australian Chief Justice and Solicitor-General.

Early life

Molesworth was born in Dublin, the son of Hickman Blayney Molesworth, a solicitor; he was descended from Robert Molesworth, 1st Viscount Molesworth. Robert attended Trinity College, Dublin where he graduated B.A. in 1826 and M.A. in 1833. After he was called to the bar in 1828, he practised law until he emigrated to Australia in 1852. He married in 1840.

Legal and political career

After initially arriving in Adelaide the Molesworths soon moved to Melbourne and he quickly established a large legal practice. On 27 January 1853 Molesworth was acting chief justice during the illness of Sir William à Beckett. On 17 June 1856 he was appointed a Supreme Court judge. Most of his time was presiding over equity cases. Molesworth was also chief judge of the Court of Mines, in this capacity he achieved much in settling the previously confused state of the law.

In 1854 he was nominated to the Victorian Legislative Council.

Late life

Molesworth was divorced from his wife in 1864. He retired as a judge on 1 May 1886 and died in Melbourne on 18 October 1890, he was buried in Kew cemetery. A married daughter and two sons survived him.

References

• Reginald R. Sholl, 'Molesworth, Sir Robert (1806 - 1890)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, MUP, 1974, pp 264–265.

Serle, Percival (1949). "Molesworth, Robert". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogMa-Mo.html#molesworth1. 

Additional resources listed by Australian Dictionary of Biography:

• Votes and Proceedings (Legislative Assembly, Victoria), 1864–65, 2 (C2)
• Victoria Government Gazette 1853, 1653, 1854, 37, 182, 1599, 1855, 3125, 1856, 1019;
• Victorian Law Reports, Insolvency, Ecclesiastical and Matrimonial cases, 1 (1861–62), 57;
• The Argus (Melbourne), 18–23 November, 15-18, 26 December 1864, 20 October 1890.

Additional resources listed by Dictionary of Australian Biography:

• P. Mennell, The Dictionary of Australasian Biography
• The Argus, Melbourne, 20 October 1890, 8 May 1886
• J. L. Forde, The Story of the Bar of Victoria
• Nettie Palmer, Henry Bournes Higgins, p. 79.