GRICE, Sir John (1850-1935)

business man

son of Richard Grice, a Melbourne merchant, was born at Melbourne on 6 October 1850. He was educated at Melbourne Grammar School, Wesley College, and the university of Melbourne, where he graduated LL.B. in 1871, and B.A. in 1872. He rowed for his university and was also a member of the Victoriain four-oared crew in 1872. He was called to the bar in that year but never practised. Instead he entered the firm of Grice Stunner and Company and eventually became one of the leading business men of Melbourne. He was for 45 years on the board of the National Bank of Australasia, and for 26 of these years was chairman of directors. He was also for many years chairman of directors of the Metropolitan Gas Company, of the Trustees Executors and Agency Company, and the Dunlop Rubber Company. His ability, sound business sense, and absolute probity made him an important influence in the commercial life of Melbourne. He was also a good citizen in other ways. He was first elected to the committee of the Melbourne hospital in 1886, and was president from 1905 to 1918. He became a member of the Melbourne university council in 1888, gave valuable service on the finance committee when the institution was passing through a difficult period, and was vice-chancellor from 1918 to 1923. During the 1914-18 war he did good work as honorary treasurer for the Victorian branch of the Australian Red Cross Society. He died at Melbourne on 27 February 1935. He married in 1878, Mary Anne, daughter of David Power, who died in 1931. He was survived by two sons. One of his sons was killed in the South African war in 1901 and another in France in 1916. He was knighted in 1917.

The Argus and The Age, Melbourne, 28 February 1935; Burke's Peerage, etc., 1935; Sir Ernest Scott, A History of the University of Melbourne; personal knowledge.