H. B. Higgins

Henry Bournes Higgins (30 June 1851 – 13 January 1929), Australian politician and judge, always known in his lifetime as H. B. Higgins, was a highly influential figure in Australian politics and law. He was born in County Mayo, Ireland, the son of The Rev. John Higgins, a Methodist minister, and Anne Bournes, daughter of Henry Bournes of Crossmolina. The Rev. Higgins and his family emigrated to Australia in 1870. H. B. Higgins was educated at Wesley College in central Dublin, Ireland, and at Melbourne University, where he graduated in law. He practised at the Melbourne bar from 1876, eventually becoming one of the city's leading barristers (a QC in 1903) and a wealthy man. He was active in liberal, radical and Irish nationalist...