John Jefferson Bray

John Jefferson Bray was born on 16 September 1912 [1] at Wayville, Adelaide.[2]  He began primary school at Glenelg and continued it at Sevenhill in the Clare Valley, before commencing secondary studies at St Peter's College.[3]  He graduated from the University of Adelaide with a Bachelor of Laws in 1932, Honours in 1933, a Doctorate of Laws in 1937, and in 1983 was made a Doctor of the University.[4] 

John lectured at the University of Adelaide in Jurisprudence, Legal History, and Roman Law [5]. In 1968 he was appointed Chancellor, a position he held until 1983, making him one of the University's longest-serving Chancellors.[6]

In 1957, John was appointed a Queen’s Counsel and in 1967 he became Chief Justice of the South Australian Supreme Court, serving in that capacity until his retirement in 1978.[7]  

John was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 1979 for service to the law, to literature and to the community.[8] 

An active member of the South Australian Libraries Board from 1944 to 1987,[9] John was also a published poet, and the John Bray Poetry Award was established in honour of his literary output.[10] 

The Hon. Dr. John Jefferson Bray died in Adelaide on 26 June 1995.[11] 

Footnotes:

1. Registrar’s Department. (1929-1983), Bray, John Jefferson. [Student card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1117, Index cards to students.

2. Ward, P 1997, 'John Bray in Adelaide', in W Prest (ed), A portrait of John Bray: Law, letters, life, Wakefield Press, Adelaide, p. 1

3. Emerson, J 2006, First among equals: Chief Justices of South Australia since federation, The University of Adelaide Barr Smith Press, South Australia, p. 165

4. Registrar’s Department. (1929-1983), Bray, John Jefferson. [Student card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1117, Index cards to students.

5. Registrar’s Department. (1939-1965), Bray, John Jefferson. [Staff card]. University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 587, Register of employees, alphabetical by surname.

6. The University of Adelaide 2022, 'Former officers and honorary degree holders of the University', University Archives, viewed 31 October 2022,
<https://www.adelaide.edu.au/records/university-archives/online-resources/former-officers-honorary-degree-holders#honorary-degree-of-doctor-honoris-causa>.

7. Emerson, J 2006, History of the independent bar of South Australia. The University of Adelaide Barr Smith Press, South Australia, pp. 11 and 124.

8. Commonwealth of Australia gazette 1979, 'Queen's birthday 1979 honours', 16 June, no. S111, viewed 15 December 2022,
<https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/240700753>.

9. Flemming, W 1995, ‘John Jefferson Bray’, The Adelaide Review, July, no. 141, p.4.

10. Flemming, W 1995, ‘John Jefferson Bray’, The Adelaide Review, July, no. 141, p.4.

11. Emerson, J 2006, First among equals: Chief Justices of South Australia since federation, The University of Adelaide Barr Smith Press, South Australia, p. 213.

Image:

1. The University of Adelaide 2012, John Jefferson Bray, 16 September 1912 - 26 June 1995 [Oration]. Delivered by John Emerson on the occasion of a dinner to celebrate the centenary of Dr. Bray's birth, Mortlock Chamber, State Library of South Australia, 1 September. University of Adelaide, Rare Books and Manuscripts, MSS 0023, Series 2.