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Langer Owen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Langer Meade Loftus Owen (27 August 1862 – 25 January 1935) was an Australian lawyer and judge.

Life

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Caricature by David Low
Caricature by David Low

Owen was a son of Sir William Owen, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

He was educated at New School, Darlinghurst, Charterhouse School, England, and New College, Oxford.[1] He was appointed KC in February 1906.

During the war years (1914–1918), he was an untiring worker for the Red Cross and was awarded a CBE in 1918 for his service.[2]

He was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench in 1922, and presided over many important divorce suits, notably the Field case, which lasted 89 days, with costs amounting to around £40,000; many millions in today's currency.[3]

He retired in June 1932, and then served as chairman of the Australian Performing Rights Association. He was appointed Knight Bachelor in 1934.[4]

Sir Langer Owen was noted for his unfailing courtesy, and was a stickler for public morality; he acted as president of the Bribery and Secret Commissions Prevention League.[5]

Death

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He died after a prolonged illness, aged 72, on 25 January 1935). His remains were cremated.[citation needed]

Family

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Owen married Mary Louisa Dames Longworth on 5 September 1888. She and her friend Katherine Rose Egan were founder members of the NSW Red Cross Division.[6] Mary died around 1916. Sir William Francis Langer Owen, KBE, QC (1899–1972) was a son.

Owen married again on 25 August 1925, to Hilda Margaret Chapman, a daughter of Sir Frederick Chapman of Wellington, New Zealand[5] and granddaughter of Henry Samuel Chapman.[7]

References

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  1. ^ "Death of Sir Langer Owen". The Daily Telegraph (Sydney). Vol. 4, no. 295. New South Wales, Australia. 26 January 1935. p. 9. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Mr Langer Owen". It's an Honour. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  3. ^ "Death of Former Judge". The Northern Star. Vol. 58. New South Wales, Australia. 26 January 1935. p. 7. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Judge Langer Meade Loftus Owen". It's an Honour. Retrieved 11 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Women You Ought to Know About". The Sun (Sydney). No. 8685. New South Wales, Australia. 4 November 1937. p. 29. Retrieved 26 November 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Melbourne, The University of. "Egan, Katherine Rose - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia". www.womenaustralia.info. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
  7. ^ Martha Rutledge (1988). "Owen, Sir Langer Meade (1862–1935)". Australian Dictionary of Biography: Owen, Sir Langer Meade (1862–1935). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 26 November 2021.