Samuel James Way

Samuel James Way was born on 11 April 1836 at Portsmouth, Hampshire, England.[1]

Way arrived in Adelaide on 6 March 1853 at the age of sixteen.[2]  He was initially employed as a clerk by John Tuthill Bagot, before being articled to solicitor Alfred Atkinson [3] and admitted to the Bar on 23 March 1861.[4]  His career progressed quickly.  Atkinson had become ill shortly before Way's admission, leaving his junior to run the practice, which Way later purchased for £1,000 upon the solicitors death in July.[5] 

In February 1875 Way was elected to the House of Assembly for Sturt, before becoming Attorney-General in Sir James Boucaut's ministry in June of that year.[6]

On 27 March 1876 he took his seat on the bench of the Supreme Court, replacing Chief Justice Sir Richard Hanson following his sudden death.[7] 

In addition to his judicial duties, Way was also prominent on most of South Australia's educational, cultural, and philanthropic bodies.[8] 

A council member of the new University of Adelaide before his elevation [9], Way would go on to hold the roles of Vice-Chancellor (1876) and Chancellor (1883-1916).[10] 

In 1877 Her Majesty bestowed upon Way the honor of a Knighthood [11], though he refused this, eventually accepting instead a baronetcy in 1899.[12]

In 1891 he was appointed Lieutenant-Governor of South Australia for life.[13]  Governor Kintore made this arrangement with the Imperial authorities without cabinet's knowledge, the announcement coming after Way had departed on a world tour.[14]  During that tour, Way was awarded an honorary Doctor of Civil Law from the University of Oxford.[15]  He was also conferred the ad eundum degree of Doctor of Laws (University of Adelaide, 1892 and Queens University of Kingston, Canada, 1895) and in 1897 received the degree of LL.D., honoris causa from the University of Cambridge and the same again from the University of Melbourne in 1901.[16] 

On 11 April 1898, his 62nd birthday, Way married Katharine Gollan, late Blue, née Gordon, a 44-year-old widow with a grown family.[17]  Their marriage was sadly short lived, with Lady Way passing away unexpectedly in May 1914.[18] 

Diagnosed as suffering from cancer in 1914, Way went to Sydney where, in July, Sir Alexander MacCormick amputated his left arm.[19]  Unfortunately his cancer would return.  On 8 January 1916, Way died at his North Adelaide home.[20]  He was given a state funeral and was buried in the family grave in West Terrace cemetery.[21]  His estate was valued for probate at £55,000 (gross).  There were thirty-five beneficiaries, including the University of Adelaide, which received £2,000 and 16,000 books from his own library, as well as some personal items, including his wedding cabinet and silverware.[22]

Footnotes:

1. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 1.

2. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 17.

3. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, pp. 23-25.

4. Adelaide Observer 1861, Law and criminal courts. Supreme court - Civil side, Adelaide Observer, 30 March, p. 3, viewed 5 Dec 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158179929>. 

5. Emerson, J 2006, First among equals: Chief Justices of South Australia since Federation, Barr Smith Press, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, S. Aust., p. 21.

6. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 92.

7. The Express and Telegraph 1876, 'Government gazette extraordinary', The Express and Telegraph, 20 March, p. 2, viewed 5 Dec 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207732215>. 

8. The Methodist 1916, 'Death of Sir Samuel Way', The Methodist, 15 January, p. 7, viewed 5 Dec 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155431625>. 

9. Northern Argus 1874, 'The Northern Argus', Northern Argus, 17 November, p. 2, viewed 5 Dec 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92767823>.    

10. University of Adelaide 2022, 'Former Officers & Honorary Degree Holders of the University', University Archives, viewed 5 December 2022, <https://www.adelaide.edu.au/records/university-archives/online-resources/former-officers-honorary-degree-holders>. 

11. The Illustrated Adelaide News 1877, 'Items of intelligence', The Illustrated Adelaide News, 1 November, p. 3, viewed 5 Dec 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article224357440>. 

12. Chronicle 1899, 'The Chief Justice honored. A baronetcy conferred.', Chronicle, 10 June, p. 17, viewed 5 Dec 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article87200211>. 

13. South Australian Register 1891, 'The Lieutenant-Governor-ship of South Australia', South Australian Register, 18 February, p. 5, viewed 5 Dec 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48090810>. 

14. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 123.

15. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 107.

16. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 107.

17. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 175.

18. The Methodist 1914, 'Death of Lady Way', The Methodist, 23 May, p. 9., viewed 5 Dec 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155444781>. 

19. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 240.

20. The Mail 1916, 'Death of Sir Samuel Way. Distinguished career ended.', The Mail, 8 January, p. 3, viewed 5 Dec 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59384243>. 

21. The Advertiser 1916, 'The last rites. Funeral of Sir Samuel Way.', The Advertiser, 12 January, p. 7, viewed 5 Dec 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article8679164>.

22. Hannan, Albert J 1960, The life of Chief Justice Way: a biography of the Right Honourable Sir Samuel Way, Bart., P.C., D.C.L., LL.D., for many years Lieutenant-Governor and Chief Justice of South Australia and Chancellor of the University of Adelaide, Angus and Robertson, Sydney, p. 245.

Image:

'Samuel James Way' 1874, Reproduction of a sepia photograph, University of Adelaide, University Archives, Series 1151-0002, Item 1.