DENNISTON, SIR JOHN EDWARD (1845-1919) was born at Bishopton, Renfrewshire, Scotland, the son of Thomas Denniston (q.v.), and received the usual public school education at Greenock Academy and Blair Lodge. Matriculating at Glasgow University and winning an entrance scholarship, he came to Otago with his parents in 1862 and followed various occupations, including those of civil servant and a clerk in the Bank of New South Wales. He then became a law clerk with W. Downie Stewart in Dunedin, and in 1874 was admitted to the bar. After practising for a few months in Wanganui he became a partner with Stewart, and for many years conducted the court work of the firm of Stewart, Holmes and Denniston. In 1889 Denniston was appointed to the Supreme Court bench. In 1919 he was chairman of the epidemic commission. He married (1877) Mary Helen, daughter of John Bathgate. He was knighted in 1917 and was senior judge at the time of his death. He was associated with the Canterbury Caledonian Society, the Society of Arts, and the Savage Club. Denniston died on 22 Jul 1919.

Cycl. NZ, iii (p); The Press, 22, 23 Jul 1919.

Reference: Volume 1, page 117

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