Sir Edward Fancourt Mitchell

Sir Edward Fancourt Mitchell KCMG KC (21 July 1855 – 7 May 1941) was an Australian barrister who was one of the leading experts in Australian constitutional law in the early part of the 20th century.

Early life Mitchell was born in Richmond, Surrey, England, the son of William Henry Fancourt Mitchell and the former Christina Templeton. His father, a long-serving member of the Victorian Legislative Council, had arrived in Australia in 1833; he was born on an extended visit home. Mitchell attended Geelong Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School, and was then sent to England to attend Trinity Hall, Cambridge. He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1881, but returned to Australia the same year and was also admitted to the Victorian Bar. He began his professional career as a junior to James Purves.

Legal career

Mitchell eventually established his own practice, frequently appearing before the Supreme Court of Victoria. He also served as chairman of Goldsbrough Mort & Co. from 1893 to 1896. After Federation in 1901, Mitchell made regular appearances before the High Court and occasionally before the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London. He was appointed King's Counsel in 1904 and made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1918. His father-in-law was the educationist Alexander Morrison, headmaster of Scotch College.