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William James Isbister
First NameWilliamMiddle NameJamesDate of Birth7 July 1866Date of Death16 December 1950NationalityAUSBiographyWilliam James Isbister was born on 7 July 1866 at North Adelaide.[1] He was educated at St Peter’s College and Melbourne University before studying for a Bachelor of Laws at the University of Adelaide.[2] While studying at the University, William was awarded the Stow Prize for being first in class in Third Year.[3]
Admitted to the South Australian Bar in 1888, William then went on to study in London and was also admitted to the Society of the Inner Temple and admitted to the bar, 14 June 1893.[4]
Returning to Adelaide, William was appointed Lecturer at the University of Adelaide in Law of Wrongs, 1894-5,[5, 6] and Law of Property II, 1906-9 [7, 8] and was a member of the University Council, 1905-1949.[9, 10]
William was made a Member of the British Empire for his service to the Red Cross in Egypt during World War I [11] and is listed on the University of Adelaide’s war memorial.
He retired as senior partner from his law practice, Isbister, Hawyood and Margarey, in 1940 and passed away on 16 December 1950, aged 84.[12]
Footnotes:
[1] The South Australian Advertiser 1866 ‘Birth’, The South Australian Advertiser, 10 July, p. 2, viewed 28 October 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/28789011>
[2] The Advertiser 1950 ‘Mr W J Isbister Dies at 84’, The Advertiser, 18 December, p. 2, viewed 28 October 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45678827>
[3] Faculty of Law Reports (1883 – 1900) Report, Faculty of Law, Vol 1, No. 10/87, 22 November 1887 [volume]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 141, Volume 1.
[4] The Express and Telegraph 1916, ‘Mr Isbister, K.C.’, The Express and Telegraph, 6 April, p. 1, viewed 28 October 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209560942>
[5] William James Isbister – King William Street, City – Thanks Council for appointing him Lecturer on the Law of Wrongs for the year 1894 [docket]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 200, Item 1894/61.
[6] William James Isbister – King William Street, Adelaide – Acknowledging reappointment as Lecturer on Law of Wrongs [docket]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 200, Item 1895/105.
[7] Fredrick Augustus d’Arenberg – Edward Erskine Cleland – William James Isbister – Percy Emerson Johnstone – Will act as Lecturer Evidence and Procedure – Property II [docket]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 200, Item 1906/797.
[8] W J Isbister – Adelaide – Resigning as Lecturer on Property II [docket]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 200, Item 1909/455.
[9] The Express and Telegraph 1916, ‘Mr Isbister, K.C.’, The Express and Telegraph, 6 April, p. 1, viewed 28 October 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209560942>
[10] W J Ibister – Resignation as a member of University Council [docket]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 200, Item 1949/86.
[11] The Advertiser 1950, ‘Mr W J Isbister dies at 84’, The Advertiser, 18 December, p. 2, viewed 28 October 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45678827>
[12] The Advertiser 1950 ‘Mr W J Isbister dies at 84’, The Advertiser, 18 December, p. 2, viewed 28 October 2022, <https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45678827>
Image:
James Isbister (1905). University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1151, Item 116.
Start Date of Person1905End Date of Person1949Organisation Adelaide Law SchoolUniversity of Adelaide CouncilPositionUniversity Council Member