COOPER, SIR THEOPHILUS (1851-1925) was born in Newington, South London, the son of Theophilus Cooper (1813-92), who worked for London newspapers before coming to New Zealand with the Albertland settlers by the Gertrude (1863). Disliking the rough conditions in Albertland, his father moved to Auckland (1866) and was connected with the publishing departments of the Southern Cross and the New Zealand Herald. He was choirmaster of the Wellesley Street Baptist Church. The elder Cooper died on 22 Jun 1892.

His son was educated at a private school in London. After residing for two years at Port Albert, Kaipara (where he held a position on the composing staff of the Albertland Gazette) he removed to Auckland with his father and obtained employment as a compositor on the Southern Cross (1865). Four years later he entered the office of J. B. Russell as a law clerk. He soon rose to be accountant, but resigned to study law, serving his articles to Russell. He was admitted a barrister and solicitor on 20 Jun 1878. His employers then took him into partnership under the name of Russell, Devore and Cooper, the partnership subsisting until 1883 when Russell retired. Cooper was leading counsel for the Bank of New Zealand in the proceedings before the banking commission in 1897. He appeared (with Chapman and Harper) to oppose the Attorney-General's application to the Court of Appeal for the cancellation of the first appointment of Mr Justice Edwards (an appointment which the Privy Council held the Government had no power to make); and represented the Midland Railway Co. in the arbitration proceedings before the Hon. Edward Blake, M.P. He was for many years a member of the council of law reporting in New Zealand and of the council of the New Zealand Law Society. Cooper was a member of the Auckland education board (1883-1901) and did much useful work in this capacity; but lack of leisure compelled him to decline the chairmanship. He was a governor of Auckland College and Grammar School and for ten years deputy-inspector of lunatic asylums. For very many years he gave valuable assistance at Sunday afternoon services held in Auckland under the auspices of the Y.M.C.A. and in other ways contributed to the welfare of the city.

On 14 Feb 1901 Cooper was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court and president of the Arbitration Court. He presided over the Arbitration Court till Sep 1903, and thereafter assisted the Chief Justice in the Wellington judicial district. He retired from the bench in 1921 (in which year he was knighted) and lived at Eltham. His death occurred on 18 May 1925. Cooper married (1888) Bessie, daughter of A. A. Alexander (Auckland).

Who's Who N.Z., 1924; Brett, Albertlanders; Butterworth's Fortnightly Notes, 28 May 1925 (p); N.Z. Herald, 23 Jun 1892, 19 May 1925.

Reference: Volume 1, page 105

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