Frederick Revans Chapman
Encyclopedia
Sir Frederick Revans Chapman (23 October 1849 – 24 June 1936) was a New Zealand judge, the first New Zealand-born Supreme Court judge.
He was born at Wellington, the fifth son of Henry Samuel Chapman
, then resident judge in Wellington. He was educated at the Church of England Grammar School
, Melbourne and in Europe, before reading law
in London. He was admitted to the bar of the Inner Temple and practised in London, before moving to Dunedin where his father was now resident judge.
He practised law with the firm of Smith, Chapman and Sinclair. In 1903 he was appointed President of the Court of Arbitration with the status of a Supreme Court judge, and in 1907 went on the Supreme Court. In 1921 he resigned, though for three years he accepted temporary assignments to the bench before retiring in 1924. He continued as Chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board. He was knighted in 1923.
He was associated with the University of Otago
, and the Hocken and Turnbull Libraries. He collected many letters and manuscripts related to New Zealand history, and was a member of several learned societies.
He died on 24 June 1936, aged 87 years.
He was born at Wellington, the fifth son of Henry Samuel Chapman
Henry Samuel Chapman
Henry Samuel Chapman was an Australian and New Zealand judge, colonial secretary, attorney-general, journalist and politician.-Early life:...
, then resident judge in Wellington. He was educated at the Church of England Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School
Melbourne Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, located in South Yarra and Caulfield, suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Melbourne and in Europe, before reading law
Reading law
Reading law is the method by which persons in common law countries, particularly the United States, entered the legal profession before the advent of law schools. This usage specifically refers to a means of entering the profession . A small number of U.S...
in London. He was admitted to the bar of the Inner Temple and practised in London, before moving to Dunedin where his father was now resident judge.
He practised law with the firm of Smith, Chapman and Sinclair. In 1903 he was appointed President of the Court of Arbitration with the status of a Supreme Court judge, and in 1907 went on the Supreme Court. In 1921 he resigned, though for three years he accepted temporary assignments to the bench before retiring in 1924. He continued as Chairman of the War Pensions Appeal Board. He was knighted in 1923.
He was associated with the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
, and the Hocken and Turnbull Libraries. He collected many letters and manuscripts related to New Zealand history, and was a member of several learned societies.
He died on 24 June 1936, aged 87 years.