Herbert Angas Parsons

Herbert Angas Parsons was born on 23 May 1872 at North Adelaide, the only son of politician John Langdon Parsons and Rosetta (Rose) Angas Johnson.[1]

Parsons studied at Prince Alfred College and briefly attended the Roseworthy Agricultural College in 1890.[2]  In 1897, he graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Laws and was admitted to the Bar that year.[3]

On 18 April 1900 Parsons married Mary Elsie, daughter of the Advertiser newspaper proprietor, Sir John Langdon Bonython.[4]

Parsons had a distinguished career.  He wrote about the history of the Northern Territory,[5] about secondary education in South Australia,[6] and about the law generally.  He sat in the House of Assembly for Torrens from 1912 to 1915 and for Murray from 1918 to 1921, and he was briefly Attorney-General and Minister for Education in 1915.[7]

His legal career was equally impressive, making King’s Counsel in 1916, Supreme Court Judge in 1921, Senior Puisne Judge in 1927, acting Chief Justice in 1935 and even Deputy Governor on occasion.[8]

Parsons also continued to support the University of Adelaide, initially as Warden of its Senate in 1927 (and re-elected 22 November 1939), [9] and then as Vice-Chancellor from 1942 to 1945.[10]

He served the community by supporting, and frequently heading, organisations such as the Royal Empire Society; South Australian Cornish Association; the Prison Reform Association, the Automobile Association of South Australia, and the Australian Round Table.[11]  He was also a member of the Adelaide Club.[12] 

Parsons was honoured with Japan’s first award, the Order of the Rising Sun, in 1921.[13]  He was knighted on 1 January 1936 [14] and appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) on 14 June 1945.[15]

Herbert Angas Parsons died on 2 November 1945 and was given a State funeral at North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth.[16] 

Footnotes:

1. Kwan, E 1988, 'Parsons, Sir Herbert Angas (1872–1945)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 11, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/parsons-sir-herbert-angas-8501>.

2. ‘Parsons, Herbert Angas 1890’, Roseworthy Agricultural College student cards (1896 – 1991). University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1045.

3. Calendar of the University of Adelaide 1899, ‘List of graduates’, W.K. Thomas & Co., Adelaide, p. 29.

4. Critic 1900, ‘Weddings of the week’, Critic, 28 April, p. 24, viewed 25 January 2023, 
<https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/211456431?searchTerm=mary%20elsie%20bonython>.

5. Parsons, H A 1907, The truth about the Northern Territory: an enquiry, Hussey & Gillingham, Adelaide.

6. Parsons, H A 1918, Educational facilities during the adolescent period, Govt. Printer, Adelaide.

7. Parliament of South Australia n.d., ‘Hon Sir Angas Parsons KBE KC’, Former Members, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=3871>.

8. Kwan, E 1988, 'Parsons, Sir Herbert Angas (1872–1945)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 11, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/parsons-sir-herbert-angas-8501>.

9. Calendar of the University of Adelaide 1940, ‘The Senate’, Advertiser Newspapers Limited, Adelaide, p. 24.

10. University of Adelaide 2022, ‘Former officers and honorary degree holders of the University: Vice-Chancellors’. University Archives, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/records/university-archives/online-resources/former-officers-honorary-degree-holders#vice-chancellors>.

11. Kwan, E 1988, 'Parsons, Sir Herbert Angas (1872–1945)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 11, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/parsons-sir-herbert-angas-8501>.

12. Morgan, E.J.R. 1963, The Adelaide Club: 1863-1963, The Griffin Press, Adelaide, p. 125.

13. Kwan, E 1988, 'Parsons, Sir Herbert Angas (1872–1945)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 11, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/parsons-sir-herbert-angas-8501>.

14. Australian Government n.d., ‘Judge Herbert Angas Parsons’, Australian Honours, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, viewed 25 January 2023, 
<https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1083610>.

15. Australian Government n.d., ‘Sir Herbert Angas Parsons’, Australian Honours, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1082153>.

16. The Advertiser 1945, ‘Death of noted jurist: Sir Angas Parson’s public service’, The Advertiser, 3 November, p. 8, viewed 25 January 2023, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/48675697?searchTerm=herbert%20angas%20parsons%20death%20north%20road%20cemetery>.

Image:

Rembrandt, Adelaide, 8 August 1921, 'H. Angas Parsons'. Image from State Library of South Australia, Portrait Collection, Item B 16421.