Stephen, Sir Ninian (1923-2017), a distinguished Australian judge, was governor general of Australia from 1982 to 1989. Ninian Martin Stephen was born on June 15, 1923, in Nettlebed, near Oxford, England. He was educated in England, in Switzerland, and in Melbourne, Australia. Ninian arrived in Australia at the age of 16. During World War II (1939-1945), he served with the Australian Army. After the war, he became a barrister (lawyer who argues cases in the highest courts). He was appointed to the High Court of Australia in 1972 and was knighted that year. He died on Oct. 29, 2017.
