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{{Short description|Australian lawyer, businessman and philanthropist}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}}
{{Use Australian English|date=June 2014}}
[[File:James Alexander Forrest.jpg|thumb|200px|James Alexander Forrest upon receiving an honorary Doctors of Laws degree, 1979.]]
[[File:James Alexander Forrest.jpg|thumb|200px|James Alexander Forrest upon receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, 1979.]]
'''Sir James "Jim" Alexander Forrest''' (born in [[Kerang, Victoria]] on 10 March 190 – deceased on 26 September 1990 in [[Malvern, Victoria]]) was an [[Australia]]n lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.
'''Sir James Alexander Forrest''' (born in [[Kerang, Victoria]] on 10 March 1905 – deceased on 26 September 1990 in [[Malvern, Victoria]]) was an Australian lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.


== Biography ==
== Biography ==
=== Family ===
=== Family ===


James Alexander Forrest was the third of five children of the Scottish-born parents John Forrest and Mary Forrest, née Gray.<ref name="anuedu 12505">{{cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/forrest-sir-james-alexander-jim-12505|title=Forrest, Sir James Alexander (Jim) (1905–1990)|website=Anu.edu.au|date=2007|author=Terry Grigg|accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref>
James Alexander Forrest was the third of five children of Scottish-born parents John Forrest and Mary Forrest, née Gray.<ref name="anuedu 12505">{{cite web|url=http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/forrest-sir-james-alexander-jim-12505|title=Forrest, Sir James Alexander (Jim) (1905–1990)|website=Anu.edu.au|date=2007|author=Terry Grigg|accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref>


He married Mary Christina Armit (1913-1995), the granddaughter of [[Edward Fancourt Mitchell|Sir Edward Fancourt Mitchell]], on 9 December 1939<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224443580 Weddings of the Week, ''The Weekly Times'', (Saturday, 16 December 1939), p.46.]</ref> (or 1935<ref name="anuedu 12505"/>). They had three children: Alexander James "Alex" Forrest (1941-),<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8225450 Births: Forrest, ''The Argus'', (Thursday, 1 January 1942), p.2.]</ref> an engineer; William John "Bill" Forrest (1944-),<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11802646 Births: Forrest, ''The Argus'', (Thursday, 1 June 1944), p.2.]</ref> a solicitor; and Hugh David Forrest, an agricultural scientist.<ref>[https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/bitstream/handle/11343/23419/109204_UMC197228_Part%202%20Degrees%20and%20Diplomas%20Conferred.pdf?sequence=29 Degrees and Diplomas Conferred, 1971: Faculty of Agriculture: Bachelor of Agricultural Science, ''University of Melbourne'', p.99.]</ref>
He married Mary Christina Armit (1913–1995), the granddaughter of [[Edward Fancourt Mitchell|Sir Edward Fancourt Mitchell]], on 9 December 1939<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224443580 Weddings of the Week, ''The Weekly Times'', (Saturday, 16 December 1939), p.46.]</ref> (or 1935<ref name="anuedu 12505"/>). They had three children: Alexander James "Alex" Forrest (1941–),<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/8225450 Births: Forrest, ''The Argus'', (Thursday, 1 January 1942), p.2.]</ref> an engineer; William John "Bill" Forrest (1944-),<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11802646 Births: Forrest, ''The Argus'', (Thursday, 1 June 1944), p.2.]</ref> a solicitor; and Hugh David Forrest, an agricultural scientist.<ref>[https://digitised-collections.unimelb.edu.au/bitstream/handle/11343/23419/109204_UMC197228_Part%202%20Degrees%20and%20Diplomas%20Conferred.pdf?sequence=29 Degrees and Diplomas Conferred, 1971: Faculty of Agriculture: Bachelor of Agricultural Science, ''University of Melbourne'', p.99.]</ref>


=== Education ===
=== Education ===
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Forrest became a prominent lawyer, specializing in corporate law. He was a partner at the firm of Hedderwicks Fookes & Alston, which later merged to become Allens Arthur Robinson.<ref>Allens Arthur Robinson (2006). [http://www.aar.com.au/about/his.htm#hedder Our history]. Retrieved 5 March 2006.</ref> His business grew thanks to his close ties with the Grimwade family, and he was eventually named a director of the Felton Grimwalde & Duerdins Ltd family holding.<ref name="anuedu 12505"/>
Forrest became a prominent lawyer, specializing in corporate law. He was a partner at the firm of Hedderwicks Fookes & Alston, which later merged to become Allens Arthur Robinson.<ref>Allens Arthur Robinson (2006). [http://www.aar.com.au/about/his.htm#hedder Our history]. Retrieved 5 March 2006.</ref> His business grew thanks to his close ties with the Grimwade family, and he was eventually named a director of the Felton Grimwalde & Duerdins Ltd family holding.<ref name="anuedu 12505"/>


Jim Forrest was enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in June 1942, and discharged in September 1943.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1047594&c=WW2|title=World War Two Service: Veteran Details (256061)|website=Dva.gov.au|accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref> He served as a Flight Lieutenant in RAAF Intelligence during his enlistment, and then worked for the Department of Aircraft Production.<ref>Rogers, 1991.</ref><ref name="anuedu 12505"/>
Jim Forrest was enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in June 1942, and discharged in September 1943.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nominal-rolls.dva.gov.au/veteran?id=1047594&c=WW2|title=World War Two Service: Veteran Details (256061)|website=Dva.gov.au|accessdate=24 March 2020}}</ref> He served as a Flight Lieutenant in RAAF Intelligence during his enlistment, and then worked for the [[Department of Aircraft Production]].<ref>Rogers, 1991.</ref><ref name="anuedu 12505"/>


Shortly after the war Forrest took up several board directorships of Australian companies :
Shortly after the war Forrest took up several board directorships of Australian companies :
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== Recognition ==
== Recognition ==
* 1067: [[Knight Bachelor]] for "services to the community".<ref>Australian Honours (2006). [http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/honours/honour_roll/search.cfm?aus_award_id=1083673&search_type=simple&showInd=true FORREST, James Alexander]. Retrieved 12 June 2006.</ref>
* 1067: [[Knight Bachelor]] for "services to the community".<ref>Australian Honours (2006). [https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1083673 FORREST, James Alexander]. Retrieved 12 June 2006.</ref>
* 1977-1990 [[list of Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science|fellow of the Australian Academy of Science]], after becoming the fourth person inducted into the Fellowship by Special Election.
* 1977-1990 [[list of Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science|fellow of the Australian Academy of Science]], after becoming the fourth person inducted into the Fellowship by Special Election.
* 1979: Honorary [[Doctor of Laws|Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)]] degree by Monash University for service to the law, commerce, and Monash itself.
* 1979: Honorary [[Doctor of Laws|Doctor of Laws (LL.D.)]] degree by Monash University for service to the law, commerce, and Monash itself.
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[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1905 births]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
[[Category:1990 deaths]]
⚫
[[Category:Australian businesspeople]]
[[Category:Australian philanthropists]]
[[Category:People educated at Caulfield Grammar School]]
[[Category:People educated at Caulfield Grammar School]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Melbourne]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Melbourne]]
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[[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science]]
[[Category:Fellows of the Australian Academy of Science]]
[[Category:University of Melbourne alumni]]
[[Category:University of Melbourne alumni]]
[[Category:Monash University faculty]]
[[Category:Academic staff of Monash University]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:Royal Australian Air Force officers]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian lawyers]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian lawyers]]
[[Category:People from Kerang]]
[[Category:People from Kerang]]
[[Category:20th-century philanthropists]]
[[Category:20th-century Australian philanthropists]]
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[[Category:20th-century Australian businesspeople]]

Latest revision as of 01:45, 29 February 2024

James Alexander Forrest upon receiving an honorary Doctor of Laws degree, 1979.

Sir James Alexander Forrest (born in Kerang, Victoria on 10 March 1905 – deceased on 26 September 1990 in Malvern, Victoria) was an Australian lawyer, businessman and philanthropist.

Biography

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Family

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James Alexander Forrest was the third of five children of Scottish-born parents John Forrest and Mary Forrest, née Gray.[1]

He married Mary Christina Armit (1913–1995), the granddaughter of Sir Edward Fancourt Mitchell, on 9 December 1939[2] (or 1935[1]). They had three children: Alexander James "Alex" Forrest (1941–),[3] an engineer; William John "Bill" Forrest (1944-),[4] a solicitor; and Hugh David Forrest, an agricultural scientist.[5]

Bildung

[edit]

Forrest was educated at Caulfield Grammar School in Melbourne; he attended there from 1920 to 1922.[6][7]

In 1925, he started an articled clerk's course at the University of Melbourne; and, although this course of study did not lead to a law degree, it qualified the student as both a barrister and solicitor in Victoria. He was admitted to the Victorian Bar on 3 March 1930.[8] His admission was moved by both Robert Menzies and Wilfred Fullagar, and presided over by William Irvine, then the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.

Career

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Forrest became a prominent lawyer, specializing in corporate law. He was a partner at the firm of Hedderwicks Fookes & Alston, which later merged to become Allens Arthur Robinson.[9] His business grew thanks to his close ties with the Grimwade family, and he was eventually named a director of the Felton Grimwalde & Duerdins Ltd family holding.[1]

Jim Forrest was enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in June 1942, and discharged in September 1943.[10] He served as a Flight Lieutenant in RAAF Intelligence during his enlistment, and then worked for the Department of Aircraft Production.[11][1]

Shortly after the war Forrest took up several board directorships of Australian companies :

  • 1945-1977: Board member of the Australian Mutual Provident Society[1]
  • 1953-1977: Chairman of Australian Consolidated Industries[1]
  • 1959-1978: Chairman of the National Bank of Australasia[1]
  • 1959-1969: Director of the Drug Houses of Australia Ltd[1]
  • 1961-1977: Director of the AMP Society[1]
  • 1970-1972: Director of the Western Mining Corporation[1]
  • 1971-1980: Chairman of Chase-NBA Group Ltd[1]
  • 1970-1978: Chairman of Alcoa Australia[1]

From 1961 to 1971, he was a foundation member of the Council of Monash University. He was a board member of numerous charitable and educational bodies, including the Royal Children's Hospital, Scotch College, Scouts Australia, and an original member of the Victoria Law Foundation.

Recognition

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A portrait of Forrest, painted by William Boissevain, and donated by Alcoa, now hangs in the National Portrait Gallery at the Old Parliament House.[13]

In 1977, The Australian Financial Review called him « one of the most dominant men among Australian company directors for a quarter of a century ».[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Terry Grigg (2007). "Forrest, Sir James Alexander (Jim) (1905–1990)". Anu.edu.au. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  2. ^ Weddings of the Week, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 16 December 1939), p.46.
  3. ^ Births: Forrest, The Argus, (Thursday, 1 January 1942), p.2.
  4. ^ Births: Forrest, The Argus, (Thursday, 1 June 1944), p.2.
  5. ^ Degrees and Diplomas Conferred, 1971: Faculty of Agriculture: Bachelor of Agricultural Science, University of Melbourne, p.99.
  6. ^ Weber (1981), p.292.
  7. ^ School Speech Night: Caulfield Grammar School: University Results, The (Melbourne) Herald, (Friday, 14 December 1923), p.10.
  8. ^ About People, The Age, (Tuesday, 4 March 1930), p.9.
  9. ^ Allens Arthur Robinson (2006). Our history. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
  10. ^ "World War Two Service: Veteran Details (256061)". Dva.gov.au. Retrieved 24 March 2020.
  11. ^ Rogers, 1991.
  12. ^ Australian Honours (2006). FORREST, James Alexander. Retrieved 12 June 2006.
  13. ^ John Howard (2003). TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP RECEPTION TO MARK THE OCCASION OF ALCOA GIFTING THREE WORKS TO THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY, OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE, CANBERRA Archived 9 February 2006 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 5 March 2006.
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