Langer Owen Explained

Sir Langer Meade Loftus Owen (27 August 1862 – 25 January 1935) was an Australian lawyer and judge.

Life

Owen was a son of Sir William Owen, Senior Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

He was educated at New School, Darlinghurst, Charterhouse School, England, and New College, Oxford.[1] He was appointed KC in February 1906.

During the war years (1914–1918), he was an untiring worker for the Red Cross and was awarded a CBE in 1918 for his service.[2]

He was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench in 1922, and presided over many important divorce suits, notably the Field case, which lasted 89 days, with costs amounting to around £40,000; many millions in today's currency.[3]

He retired in June 1932, and then served as chairman of the Australian Performing Rights Association. He was appointed Knight Bachelor in 1934.[4]

Sir Langer Owen was noted for his unfailing courtesy, and was a stickler for public morality; he acted as president of the Bribery and Secret Commissions Prevention League.

Death

He died after a prolonged illness, aged 72, on 25 January 1935). His remains were cremated.

Family

Owen married Mary Louisa Dames Longworth on 5 September 1888. She and her friend Katherine Rose Egan were founder members of the NSW Red Cross Division.[5] Mary died around 1916.Sir William Francis Langer Owen, KBE, QC (1899–1972) was a son.

Owen married again on 25 August 1925, to Hilda Margaret Chapman, a daughter of Sir Frederick Chapman of Wellington, New Zealand[6] and granddaughter of Henry Samuel Chapman.[7]

Notes and References

  1. News: Death of Sir Langer Owen . . 4 . 295 . New South Wales, Australia . 26 January 1935 . 26 November 2021 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  2. Web site: Mr Langer Owen . 2022-06-11 . It's an Honour.
  3. News: Death of Former Judge . . 58 . New South Wales, Australia . 26 January 1935 . 26 November 2021 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  4. Web site: Judge Langer Meade Loftus Owen . 2022-06-11 . It's an Honour.
  5. Web site: Melbourne . The University of . Egan, Katherine Rose - Woman - The Encyclopedia of Women and Leadership in Twentieth-Century Australia . 2023-09-23 . www.womenaustralia.info . en-gb.
  6. News: Women You Ought to Know About . . 8685 . New South Wales, Australia . 4 November 1937 . 26 November 2021 . 29 . National Library of Australia.
  7. Book: Martha Rutledge . Australian Dictionary of Biography: Owen, Sir Langer Meade (1862–1935) . Owen, Sir Langer Meade (1862–1935) . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University . 1988 . 26 November 2021.