Norman Lethbridge Cowper was the senior partner of Allen Allen & Hemsley, a doyen of the profession and a leading public figure of his time.
Born in Roseville, Sydney, in 1896, his family had for generations held esteemed public roles in New South Wales, dating back to Captain Phillip Gidley King, the third governor of the colony. Norman’s great-grandfather, Sir Charles Cowper, was the second premier of New South Wales and his grandfather, Charles Cowper, was a politician and police magistrate who became the colony’s sheriff. Norman proudly and impressively followed in their footsteps.
Cowper spent a year as a jackeroo, stockman and boundary rider on sheep stations in outback New South Wales.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Sydney University in 1918, Cowper spent a year as a jackeroo, stockman and boundary rider on sheep stations in outback New South Wales. Upon his return he entered law school at Sydney University and became articled to his father, Cecil Cowper, a partner at Allen Allen & Hemsley.
Unable to enlist for military service in the First World War (because of rheumatic fever as a child), Cowper was accepted into the Australian Imperial Force in 1941, rising to assistant provost marshal and serving in New Guinea, Hollandia and Morotai Island.
Cowper developed an early interest in political life and held senior positions in the National Party at branch and then state level. After the Second World War he left his political aspirations behind and focused his attention on rebuilding the firm.
Cowper’s skills as a lawyer, capacity for hard work, enthusiasm and warmth saw him assume a position of leadership in the firm. His commitment to the broader community was evident through his work with the Australian Institute of International Affairs, his role in establishing the Australian Institute of Political Science and his longstanding association with the Australian National University and Sydney Grammar School.
An active company director, he often held up to six board positions at a time and was president of the Law Society of New South Wales from 1958 to 1959. In 1958 Cowper was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire ‘for services to education’, and in 1967 was appointed a Knight Bachelor ‘for distinguished public service’.
Sir Norman Cowper of Allen Allen & Hemsley was ahead of his time in promoting the use of plain English. He had a talent for succinct language both in speech and writing.
