Richard Pennefather

The Honourable Richard William Pennefather KC
Richard Pennefather c.1897
9th Attorney-General of Western Australia
In office 27 October 1897 – 20 March 1901
Preceded by	Septimus Burt
Succeeded by	William Sayer
Constituency	Greenough
Personal details
Born	(1851-07-16)16 July 1851 Tipperary, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died	16 January 1914(1914-01-16) (aged 62) Swanbourne, Western Australia, Australia
Political party	Independent Ministerial
Spouse(s)	Florie Edith Fullagar
Children	Irene Sylvia (b. 1898)
Profession	Barrister

Richard William Pennefather (16 July 1851 – 16 January 1914) was the ninth Attorney-General of Western Australia, its third since Responsible Government. He served two terms as Member of the Legislative Assembly for Greenough; was Acting Justice of the WA Supreme Court (1901–1902); then was elected to the Legislative Council for North Province in 1908. He died in office on 16 January 1914.

Pennefather was born 16 July 1851 in Tipperary, Ireland, eldest son of Frederick Pennefather. The family moved to Melbourne, Victoria, where Pennefather received private tuition, then attended St Patrick’s College, then afterwards Melbourne University where in 1878 he gained his BA and LLB degrees. He worked for five years in the Crown Solicitor's office, engaged in instructing the Crown Prosecutors on circuit, then in 1876 was admitted to the Victorian bar, where he practiced for 10 years. in 1880 he was admitted to the NSW bar, where he practiced for two years, before returning to Melbourne. In 1880 he was admitted to the Queensland bar but never practiced there. He was appointed QC in Sydney in 1883. In all he practiced for fifteen years at the Victorian bar.

In March 1896 Pennefather went to Western Australia. During the period required to establish WA residency for admission to the Western Australian bar he travelled over the colony particularly to the eastern mining areas, at that time in the rise of a major gold boom. He returned to Perth in November 1896 and was admitted to practice at the end of that year.

Pennefather was acknowledged as a fluent and eloquent speaker. At the general elections for the Western Australian Legislative Assembly in 1897, Pennefather stood for the Greenough constituency as a supporter of the Forrest Government, winning the seat by a substantial majority. In October 1897 Premier Sir John Forrest appointed Pennefather Attorney-General in the Cabinet upon the retirement of Septimus Burt. He served two terms, from 27 October 1897 to 20 March 1901.