Clive Evatt
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Clive Evatt | |
|---|---|
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Hurstville | |
| In office 18 March 1939 – 16 February 1959 | |
| Preceded by | James Webb |
| Succeeded by | Bill Rigby |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 6 June 1900 |
| Died | 15 September 1984 (aged 84) Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia |
| Party | Labor Party |
| Other political affiliations | Industrial Labor Party Independent |
| Spouse | Marjorie Andreas |
| Relations | H. V. Evatt (brother) Sir George Evatt (uncle) |
| Children | Elizabeth Evatt Penelope Seidler Clive Evatt, jnr |
| Alma mater | RMC, Duntroon University of Sydney |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Australia |
| Branch/service | Australian Army |
| Years of service | c. 1918–1922 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
Clive Raleigh Evatt QC (6 June 1900 – 15 September 1984) was an Australian politician, barrister and raconteur. He was a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly from 1939 until 1959. At various times he sat as a member of the Industrial Labor Party, Labor Party and as an independent.
Clive Raleigh Evatt was born in East Maitland, the son of an immigrant publican who died when Evatt was one year old. His middle name was given in honour of his first cousin Raleigh Evatt, the son of his uncle Major-General Sir George Evatt. One of eight brothers, including H. V. Evatt, he was educated at Fort Street Boys' High School.[1]
Evatt's family prevented him from enlisting in the First AIF, but allowed him to enroll in the Royal Military College, Duntroon from which he graduated as a lieutenant in 1921. He resigned from the army the following year to study law at the University of Sydney. While at university, he played Rugby league for University and New South Wales, and was the editor for Undergraduate journal Hermes.[2] Evatt graduated and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1926.[3]
He married Marjorie Andreas, the daughter of Harry Andreas of Leuralla, in 1928 and they had three children: Elizabeth Evatt AC; Penelope Seidler AM and defamation barrister Clive Evatt Jnr. In 1940 the Evatt family built Evatt House in Wahroonga, their home until the death of Clive and Marjorie Evatt in 1984.[4]
Evatt's career as a barrister advanced rapidly and he was appointed a King's Counsel in 1935. He specialized in Workers' Compensation cases but also appeared in criminal cases, most notably in the Shark Arm case, where he successfully defended Patrick Brady.[3][5]
