Isaac Isaacs facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Right Honourable Sir Isaac Isaacs GCB GCMG
Isaacs in 1936
9th Governor-General of Australia
In office 21 January 1931 – 23 January 1936
Monarch	George V Edward VIII
Prime Minister	James Scullin Joseph Lyons
Preceded by	The Lord Stonehaven
Succeeded by	The Lord Gowrie
3rd Chief Justice of Australia
In office 2 April 1930 – 21 January 1931
Nominated by	James Scullin
Appointed by	The Lord Stonehaven
Preceded by	Sir Adrian Knox
Succeeded by	Sir Frank Duffy
Justice of the High Court of Australia
In office 12 October 1906 – 2 April 1930
Nominated by	Alfred Deakin
Appointed by	Lord Northcote
Preceded by	None
Succeeded by	Sir Edward McTiernan
Attorney-General of Australia
In office 6 July 1905 – 10 October 1906
Prime Minister	Alfred Deakin
Preceded by	Josiah Symon
Succeeded by	Littleton Groom
Member of the Australian Parliament for Indi
In office 29 March 1901 – 12 October 1906
Preceded by	None Australian Federation
Succeeded by	Joseph Brown
Personal details
Born	Isaac Alfred Isaacs (1855-08-06)6 August 1855 Melbourne, Victoria
Died	11 February 1948(1948-02-11) (aged 92) South Yarra, Melbourne, Victoria
Spouse	Daisy Jacobs ​ (m. 1888)​
Children	2
Profession	Barrister, politician and judge

Sir Isaac Alfred Isaacs (born 6 August 1855 – died 11 February 1948) was an important Australian lawyer, politician, and judge. He became the ninth Governor-General of Australia, serving from 1931 to 1936. Before this, he was a judge on the High Court of Australia from 1906 to 1931. He even became the Chief Justice (the top judge) in 1930.

Isaacs was born in Melbourne and grew up in country Victoria. He started teaching at age 15. Later, he moved to Melbourne to study law while working. He became a lawyer in 1880 and was known as one of Melbourne's best. He was elected to the Victorian Parliament in 1892. He served as a government lawyer, called the Solicitor-General and Attorney-General.

In 1901, Isaacs joined the new federal parliament. He became the Attorney-General of Australia in 1905. The next year, he left politics to become a judge on the High Court. On the High Court, he believed the national government should have more power. He wrote an important decision in 1920 that made national laws more powerful than state laws.

In 1930, Prime Minister James Scullin made Isaacs the Chief Justice. Later that year, Scullin wanted Isaacs to be the Governor-General. This was a big deal because the Governor-General was usually a British aristocrat, not an Australian. King George V didn't like the idea at first but agreed. Isaacs became the first Australian-born Governor-General in January 1931. He was popular because he saved money during the Great Depression. Isaacs was also the first Jewish High Court Justice, Chief Justice, and Governor-General of Australia.

Early Life and Education

Isaacs in the 1898 Australasian Federal Convention album.

Isaac Isaacs was the son of Alfred Isaacs, a tailor from Poland. His parents moved to Melbourne, Australia, in 1854. Isaac was born in their cottage in Melbourne on 6 August 1855. When he was young, his family moved to Yackandandah, a gold mining town in northern Victoria.

Isaac had several brothers and sisters. He started school after 1860 and was very good at math and languages. He sometimes skipped school to visit the gold mining camps. In 1867, his family moved to Beechworth so he could get a better education. He went to Beechworth Grammar School and was the top student in his first year.

At just 15 years old, in 1870, Isaacs passed an exam to become a pupil teacher. He taught at the Grammar School until 1873. He then taught at the Beechworth State School. While teaching, he became interested in law. He read law books and watched court cases.

As a child, Isaacs learned Russian from his parents. He also spoke English and some German. Later in life, he learned Italian, French, Greek, Hindustani, and Chinese.

Becoming a Lawyer

In 1875, Isaacs moved to Melbourne and worked in a law office. He studied law at the University of Melbourne while working full-time. He earned his law degree in 1880. By 1899, he became a Queen's Counsel, which is a very senior lawyer.

A Career in Politics

Serving in Victoria

In 1892, Isaacs was elected to the Victorian Parliament. He represented the area of Bogong. In 1893, he became the Solicitor-General, a government lawyer. From 1894 to 1899, he was the Attorney-General, the chief legal advisor to the government. He even acted as Premier (the state leader) sometimes.

In 1897, he was chosen to attend a meeting to create the Australian Constitution. He had some concerns about the draft constitution. However, he supported it after a major Australian group, the Australian Natives' Association, fully backed it.

Joining the Federal Parliament

Isaacs during his time as a federal MP

In 1901, Isaacs was elected to the first federal Parliament. He represented the area of Indi. He was part of the Protectionist Party. He wanted more progressive policies. Some of his colleagues found him a bit distant and self-righteous.

In 1905, Prime Minister Alfred Deakin made Isaacs the Attorney-General. But Isaacs was a challenging colleague. In 1906, Deakin wanted him to leave politics. So, he appointed Isaacs to the High Court. Isaacs was the first government minister to resign from parliament to become a judge.

Serving on the High Court

Isaacs as a High Court judge

On the High Court, Isaacs was known for his strong views. He often disagreed with the Chief Justice, Sir Samuel Griffith. Isaacs served on the court for 24 years. He was seen as a very smart but sometimes difficult judge.

In 1928, he was made a Knight Commander for his work on the High Court. Isaacs was one of only a few High Court judges who had also served in the Parliament of Australia. In April 1930, Prime Minister James Scullin appointed Isaacs as the Chief Justice. Isaacs was 75 years old at the time.

Australia's First Australian Governor-General

Isaacs in his viceregal uniform, standing with his wife, about 1934.

Soon after Isaacs became Chief Justice, the position of Governor-General became open. Prime Minister Scullin suggested Isaacs for the job. This was a very new idea because the Governor-General had always been from Britain. Many people debated whether an Australian should hold such a high office.

Prime Minister Scullin spoke to King George V about the appointment. The King was worried about an Australian being too involved in local politics. But he eventually agreed to Scullin's choice.

Isaacs's appointment was announced in December 1930. He officially started on 22 January 1931. He was the first Australian-born Governor-General. Isaacs agreed to a lower salary and ran the office very carefully. He gave up his official homes in Sydney and Melbourne. He was also the first Governor-General to live full-time at Yarralumla in Canberra. People liked his simple and dignified style, especially during the Great Depression.

In 1932, Isaacs received another honour, becoming a Knight Grand Cross. His time as Governor-General ended on 23 January 1936. He then retired to Victoria. In 1937, he was given another high honour, the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath.

Personal Life

Isaac Isaacs married Deborah "Daisy" Jacobs in 1888. They had two daughters, Marjorie and Nancy. Lady Isaacs passed away in 1960.

Later Years and Legacy

Isaacs was 81 when he finished his term as Governor-General, but he remained active. He continued to write about legal matters for another ten years. In the 1940s, he had strong views against Zionism, which was the movement to create a Jewish homeland in Palestine. Isaacs believed that being Jewish was about religion, not about having a separate country or nationality. He felt that Jewish people should be loyal citizens of the countries they lived in. He also believed that supporting a Jewish state in Palestine could cause problems with other groups and threaten peace.

Sir Isaac Isaacs passed away at his home in South Yarra, Victoria, on 11 February 1948. He was 92 years old. The Australian government held a state funeral for him. He was buried in Melbourne General Cemetery.

Honours

In May 1949, an Australian voting area was named the Division of Isaacs in his honour. This area was in the southern suburbs of Melbourne. Later, in 1968, a new Division of Isaacs was created in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne, which still exists today. The suburb of Isaacs in Canberra was also named after him in 1966.

In 1973, Australia honoured Isaacs with a postage stamp featuring his picture.