Norman Lethbridge Cowper
Encyclopedia
Sir Norman Lethbridge Cowper (15 September 1896 – 9 September 1987) was an Australian lawyer best known as the Senior Partner of the legal firm of Allen Allen & Hemsley which is now Allens Arthur Robinson
. Under Cowper's leadership, Allen Allen & Hemsley became one of Australia's leading law firms working for many of Australia's biggest corporations and expanded into Asia. [1] His most notable work as a lawyer was his involvement in the successful fight by 11 trading banks against the Chifley
Government's bank nationalisation legislation. He was knighted for his contribution to public affairs in 1967.
He also twice stood for Parliament as a candidate of the United Australia Party
and was involved in drafting its constitution. Cowper served on the boards of 20 Australian public companies including Borg Warner Australia
and Angus & Robertson
.
in 1896 into one of NSW's most powerful families. One of his ancestors Sir Charles Cowper
was Premier of New South Wales and his father was a prominent solicitor. At the age of 9, he went to Chatswood Preparatory School (later known as Mowbray House School
). He went to the Sydney Grammar School
where he became a prefect and had a good academic record finishing in 1914.
Cowper then undertook an arts degree at Sydney University finishing in 1917. He then joined the army in 1918 after having been rejected three times earlier due to an enlarged heart due to a bout of rheumatic fever
. However, he was discharged for the same reason two months later having never left Australia. After the war, he undertook a law degree graduating with second-class honours in 1923.
He also held a series of appointments including President of the Law Society of New South Wales
and becoming a Foundation Director of the solicitors scheme.
and twice stood as a candidate for Federal Parliament. Together with former Prime Minister of Australia
Billy Hughes
, he stood for the Division of North Sydney
in the Australian federal election, 1931
. Cowper performed creditably on primary votes but Hughes won by over 8,000 votes once preferences were distributed. He again contested the Division of Wentworth
in the Australian federal election, 1940
finishing behind E J Harrison who was a sitting member and Minister.
in 1932 and later became its President. The Norman Cowper lecture has been given annually in his honour since 1982 http://www.aips.net.au/newsandevents/cowper.htm. He also played a leading role in the Australian Institute of International Affairs
. He served as president of the Australian Club
.
In a professional capacity he served on a series of investigations and commissions; the first "Committee of Enquiry into the Salaries and Allowances of Members of the Commonwealth Parliament (1959). In 1964, he was chairman of the Council on New Guinea Affairs which prepared the way for the independence of Papua New Guinea
. The Menzies Government appointed him to the council of the Australian National University
in 1955. He was also a member of the National Committee and Editorial Board of the Australian Dictionary of Biography
.
Additionally, Sir Norman was a director, and frequently a chairman, of a number of public companies such as BorgWarner Australia and Angus & Robertson.
described him as being "surpassed by none in his breadth and liberality of mind, integrity and undeviating, selfless care for the public interest. Through the growing pains and uncertainties of our nation in this century, he had few equals".
Allens Arthur Robinson
Allens Arthur Robinson is a commercial law firm that operates in the Asia-Pacific region. In Australia, and throughout the Asia-Pacific region generally, it is considered to be one of the top commercial law firms.- Offices :...
. Under Cowper's leadership, Allen Allen & Hemsley became one of Australia's leading law firms working for many of Australia's biggest corporations and expanded into Asia. [1] His most notable work as a lawyer was his involvement in the successful fight by 11 trading banks against the Chifley
Ben Chifley
Joseph Benedict Chifley , Australian politician, was the 16th Prime Minister of Australia. He took over the Australian Labor Party leadership and Prime Ministership after the death of John Curtin in 1945, and went on to retain government at the 1946 election, before being defeated at the 1949...
Government's bank nationalisation legislation. He was knighted for his contribution to public affairs in 1967.
He also twice stood for Parliament as a candidate of the United Australia Party
United Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
and was involved in drafting its constitution. Cowper served on the boards of 20 Australian public companies including Borg Warner Australia
BorgWarner
BorgWarner Inc. is a United States-based worldwide automotive industry components and parts supplier. It is primarily known for its powertrain products, which include manual and automatic transmissions and transmission components, , turbochargers, engine valve timing system...
and Angus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson
Angus & Robertson is a bookstore chain in Australia. Its first bookstore was opened in 110½ Market Street, Sydney by Scotsman David Angus in 1884; it sold second-hand books. In 1886, he went into partnership with fellow Scot, George Robertson with whom he had worked earlier.- Bookselling history...
.
Early life and career
Cowper was born in Chatswood, New South WalesChatswood, New South Wales
Chatswood is a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Chatswood is located 10 kilometres north of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of the City of Willoughby. Chatswood West is a separate suburb...
in 1896 into one of NSW's most powerful families. One of his ancestors Sir Charles Cowper
Charles Cowper
Sir Charles Cowper, KCMG was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five different occasions from 1856 to 1870....
was Premier of New South Wales and his father was a prominent solicitor. At the age of 9, he went to Chatswood Preparatory School (later known as Mowbray House School
Mowbray House School
Mowbray House School was an independent, day and boarding school for boys, located in Chatswood, on the North Shore of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.-History:...
). He went to the Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
where he became a prefect and had a good academic record finishing in 1914.
Cowper then undertook an arts degree at Sydney University finishing in 1917. He then joined the army in 1918 after having been rejected three times earlier due to an enlarged heart due to a bout of rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic fever is an inflammatory disease that occurs following a Streptococcus pyogenes infection, such as strep throat or scarlet fever. Believed to be caused by antibody cross-reactivity that can involve the heart, joints, skin, and brain, the illness typically develops two to three weeks after...
. However, he was discharged for the same reason two months later having never left Australia. After the war, he undertook a law degree graduating with second-class honours in 1923.
Legal career
He started his legal career at Allen, Allen & Helmsley after his admission as a solicitor in 1923. Cowper would work at the firm for over 50 years reaching the rank of senior partner and turning it into one of Australia's leading law firms.He also held a series of appointments including President of the Law Society of New South Wales
Law Society of New South Wales
The Law Society of New South Wales is a professional association for solicitors in Australia. The Society has statutory powers and regulates the practice of law in New South Wales. The Society reported a membership of 21,000 members as of October 2010....
and becoming a Foundation Director of the solicitors scheme.
Political career
Cowper was involved with the foundation of the United Australia PartyUnited Australia Party
The United Australia Party was an Australian political party that was founded in 1931 and dissolved in 1945. It was the political successor to the Nationalist Party of Australia and predecessor to the Liberal Party of Australia...
and twice stood as a candidate for Federal Parliament. Together with former Prime Minister of Australia
Prime Minister of Australia
The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the highest minister of the Crown, leader of the Cabinet and Head of Her Majesty's Australian Government, holding office on commission from the Governor-General of Australia. The office of Prime Minister is, in practice, the most powerful...
Billy Hughes
Billy Hughes
William Morris "Billy" Hughes, CH, KC, MHR , Australian politician, was the seventh Prime Minister of Australia from 1915 to 1923....
, he stood for the Division of North Sydney
Division of North Sydney
The Division of North Sydney is an Australian Electoral Division in New South Wales. The division is named after the North Sydney area where it is located. It was proclaimed in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election...
in the Australian federal election, 1931
Australian federal election, 1931
Federal elections were held in Australia on 19 December 1931. All 75 seats in the House of Representatives, and 18 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
. Cowper performed creditably on primary votes but Hughes won by over 8,000 votes once preferences were distributed. He again contested the Division of Wentworth
Division of Wentworth
The Division of Wentworth is an Australian Electoral Division in the state of New South Wales. It was proclaimed in 1900 and was one of the original 75 divisions contested at the first federal election. The Division is named after William Charles Wentworth , a noted Australian explorer and statesman...
in the Australian federal election, 1940
Australian federal election, 1940
Federal elections were held in Australia on 21 September 1940. All 74 seats in the House of Representatives, and 19 of the 36 seats in the Senate were up for election...
finishing behind E J Harrison who was a sitting member and Minister.
Public affairs
Cowper was one of the founders of the Australian Institute of Political ScienceAustralian Institute of Political Science
AIPS, the was founded in 1932. Originally known as the Australian Institute of Political Science, its aim was to further public understanding of Australia's political and economic situation during the Great Depression and beyond. In 2006 the organisation changed its name to the Australian...
in 1932 and later became its President. The Norman Cowper lecture has been given annually in his honour since 1982 http://www.aips.net.au/newsandevents/cowper.htm. He also played a leading role in the Australian Institute of International Affairs
Australian Institute of International Affairs
The Australian Institute of International Affairs is a non-profit think tank based in Australia. Established in 1924 and formed as a national body in 1933, the organisation endeavours to promote interest in and understanding of international affairs...
. He served as president of the Australian Club
Australian Club
The Australian Club is a private club founded in 1838 and located in Sydney at 165 Macquarie Street. Its membership is men-only and it's the oldest gentlemen's club in the southern hemisphere...
.
In a professional capacity he served on a series of investigations and commissions; the first "Committee of Enquiry into the Salaries and Allowances of Members of the Commonwealth Parliament (1959). In 1964, he was chairman of the Council on New Guinea Affairs which prepared the way for the independence of Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea , officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, is a country in Oceania, occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands...
. The Menzies Government appointed him to the council of the Australian National University
Australian National University
The Australian National University is a teaching and research university located in the Australian capital, Canberra.As of 2009, the ANU employs 3,945 administrative staff who teach approximately 10,000 undergraduates, and 7,500 postgraduate students...
in 1955. He was also a member of the National Committee and Editorial Board of the Australian Dictionary of Biography
Australian Dictionary of Biography
The Australian Dictionary of Biography is a national, co-operative enterprise, founded and maintained by the Australian National University to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's history....
.
Additionally, Sir Norman was a director, and frequently a chairman, of a number of public companies such as BorgWarner Australia and Angus & Robertson.
Death
He died on 9 September 1987, just six days short of his 91st birthday. In his obituary of Cowper in The Sydney Morning Herald, Francis JamesFrancis James
Alfred Francis James was an eccentric Australian publisher known for being imprisoned in China as a spy.-Early life:...
described him as being "surpassed by none in his breadth and liberality of mind, integrity and undeviating, selfless care for the public interest. Through the growing pains and uncertainties of our nation in this century, he had few equals".