William Portus Cullen

Sir William Portus Cullen KCMG (28 May 1855 – 6 April 1935) was a chief justice and politician from New South Wales, Australia.

Cullen was born at Mount Johnston, near Jamberoo, New South Wales, the seventh son of John and Rebecca (née Clinton) Cullen. A brother, Joseph Cullen, was a Member of Parliament for both New South Wales and Western Australia. William was educated at country state schools, including Kiama, and the University of Sydney, where he won a scholarship.

William Cullen graduated B.A. with first class honours in classics in 1880, M.A. in 1882, LL.B. in 1885 and LL.D. in 1887. During his university career he won the University, Lithgow, Barker, and Renwick scholarships, and the John Smith prize.

Cullen was called to the bar in 1883 and his progress at first was slow. But, he eventually took high rank at the equity bar, and argued with much success before the Supreme Court of New South Wales and the High Court of Australia (an institution whose creation he had vigorously supported). He became a K.C. in 1905.

Cullen entered politics in 1891 when he was elected a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Camden. He was defeated at the 1894 election, and in 1895 was nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council. Though not a strong party man, or even a politician by temperament, he was a useful member of the house who never spoke unless he could contribute something constructive to the debate. Cullen was a Federationist. In January 1910 he was appointed Chief Justice of New South Wales in succession to Sir Frederick Darley, and in March was appointed lieutenant-governor. Cullen found much business awaiting him at the Supreme Court, but his great capacity for work soon cleared up the arrears. His chief interest from his undergraduate days was the University of Sydney; he was elected a member of the university senate in 1896, vice-chancellor in 1908, and chancellor in 1914. During his early days in the Legislative Council he introduced a bill embodying important reforms in the conduct of the university, although some of these were not brought into effect until many years after. He was elected term after term as chancellor, and when he resigned on account of his health and his advanced age in December 1934, he had been in office for a longer period than any previous chancellor, during a time of great expansion.

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