ANDREWS, Richard Bullock (1823-1884)

politician and judge

was born in 1823, practised as a solicitor in England, and came to South Australia about 1853, in which year he was appointed a notary public. He practised at Mount Barker but after being admitted to the South Australian bar in 1855 came to Adelaide. In June 1857 he was elected to the house of assembly for Yatala and was attorney-general in the Torrens (q.v.) ministry from 1 to 30 September. He was again attorney-general in the Dutton (q.v.) and Ayers (q.v.) ministries in 1863, 1865, 1867 and 1868. He had been made a Q.C. in 1865 and in January 1870 resigned from parliament to become crown solicitor and public prosecutor. In March 1881 he was appointed a judge of the supreme court. He fell into ill-health, was obliged to take six months leave of absence at the end of 1883 and died at Hobart on 26 June 1884 leaving a widow and a daughter. A man of commanding presence, amiable and just, with a gift for concision, Andrews was an excellent public prosecutor and had the qualifications of a good judge. His health however gave him few opportunities of showing this during the short time he was on the bench. In private life he was interested in viticulture, and made some good wines during the eighteen-sixties.

The South Australian Register, 27 and 28 June 1884; The South Australian Advertiser, 27 June 1884.