Sir Herbert Angas Parsons,

KBE KBE may refer to: * Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, post-nominal letters * Knowledge-based engineering Knowledge-based engineering (KBE) is the application of knowledge-based systems technology to the domain o ...

, KC (23 May 1872 – 2 November 1945), generally known as Sir Angas Parsons, was a

Cornish Australian Cornish Australians ( kw, Ostralians kernewek) are citizens of Australia who are fully or partially of Cornish heritage or descent, an ethnic group native to Cornwall in the United Kingdom. Cornish Australians form part of the worldwide Co ...

lawyer, politician and judge.

Early life and education

Parsons was born in North Adelaide on 23 May 1872, the only son of Cornish born minister and politician John Langdon Parsons (1837–1903) and his first wife Rose. He was educated at Prince Alfred College and Roseworthy Agricultural College before spending three years following "pastoral and financial pursuits". He then studied law at the University of Adelaide, serving his articles with George Ash and graduating in March 1897, aged 24.

Career

He was admitted to the Bar later in 1897. He joined with Patrick McMahon Glynn, KC. in partnership in 1898; they were joined in October 1908 by

George McEwin George McEwin (29 January 1815 – 8 August 1885) was a gardener and orchardist in the early days of South Australia, remembered today as the founder of Glen Ewin jams and preserves. McEwin was born in Scotland, and worked in the gardens of ...

and subsequently by (later Sir) Mellis Napier. In 1912 he stood for parliament and was elected member of the South Australian House of Assembly for

Torrens Torrens may refer to: Places South Australia * Electoral district of Torrens, a state electoral district * Lake Torrens, a salt lake north of Adelaide * River Torrens, which runs through the heart of Adelaide * Torrens Building, a heritage-liste ...

(1912-1915), and subsequently member for Murray. It was around June of this year that he became universally referred to as "Angas Parsons". He was briefly Attorney-General of South Australia and minister of education in 1915. Parsons was appointed

King's Counsel In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel ( post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of a queen, is a lawyer (usually a barrister or ...

in 1916, a judge of the Supreme Court in 1921, senior puisne judge in 1927, and acting chief justice in 1935. On occasions, Parsons acted as deputy governor and, after his father's death, in 1904 he became consul for Japan.

Service and recognition

Like his father-in-law, he became president of the Cornish Association of South Australia. He was also warden of the University of Adelaide's senate, and vice-chancellor from 1942 to 1944. He was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in 1936, and appointed

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

(KBE) in 1945. He retired in 1945 and, having "spent many hours at the Adelaide Club, preferring its convivial atmosphere to his wife's Methodism".

Personal life

On 18 April 1900, Parsons married Mary Elsie Bonython (1874–1956), eldest surviving child of Sir John Langdon Bonython and his wife Mary Louisa Fredericka née Balthasar. They had two sons. Mary Elsie Parsons served with distinction as Mayoress at official functions for her widowed brother Sir John Lavington Bonython in 1911 and 1912. Parsons died of cirrhosis on 2 November 1945. Survived by Lady Parsons and their two sons Philip Brendon Angas Parsons (1905– ) and Geoffrey Bonython Parsons (1908– ), he was buried with his parents in North Road Cemetery.

Gallery

File:Herbert Parsons-1887-B7723 257.jpg, Parsons dressed as the King of Spades for the Adelaide Mayoral Children's Fancy Dress Ball, 1887 File:Elsie Bonython 13yrs 1887-B7723 41.jpg, Elsie dressed as a Norwegian fishgirl, 1887 File:Elsie Bonython Bridesmaids-18 April 1900-B30390.jpg, Elsie's bridesmaids - 18 April 1900; left to right: Elsie Parsons (half sister of bridegroom); Ada & Edith Bonython (sisters of the bride); Winifred Bonython (cousin of the bride) File:Mr.andMrs.AngasParsons-1912-PRG280 1 11 530.jpg, Herbert, Elsie, & friend, Garden party at Government House, 1912 File:Herbert Parsons et al-1917-PRG280 1 9 181.jpg, 1917 - Members of an Observation School Committee; Angas Parsons sitting front row, second from left. File:Herbert Parsons-1920-B4060.jpg, 1920 File:Herbert Parsons-1921-B16421.jpg, 1921 File:Lady Weigall-1921-PRG280 1 23 54.jpg, 1921 - Lady Weigall, wife of the Governor of South Australia, accompanied by her daughter Priscilla greeting Sir George Murray, Lieutenant Governor and Justice Angas Parsons at a garden party held in the grounds of Government House, Adelaide.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Parsons, Herbert Angas 1872 births 1945 deaths Australian Knights Bachelor Australian Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Australian politicians awarded knighthoods Attorneys-General of South Australia Members of the South Australian House of Assembly Judges of the Supreme Court of South Australia 20th-century Australian judges Australian King's Counsel Lawyers from Adelaide Vice-Chancellors of the University of Adelaide Australian people of Cornish descent Bonython family People educated at Prince Alfred College Adelaide Law School alumni Adelaide Club Deaths from cirrhosis Burials at North Road Cemetery