The Hon Sir Francis Gerard Brennan (1928-2022) was a Justice of the High Court from 12 February 1981 to 20 April 1995, and Chief Justice from 21 April 1995 to 21 May 1998. He was appointed a Justice of the Court of Final Appeal of Hong Kong in 2000. After graduating from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Applied Science and Law, he was admitted to the Queensland Bar in 1951. He was appointed a Queen's Counsel (QC) in 1965. He was a Judge of the Australian Industrial Court and Additional Judge of Supreme Court of Australian Capital Territory (1976–81); a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia (1977–81); President of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (1976–79); President of the Administrative Review Council (1976–79); a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission (1975–77); President of the Bar Association of Queensland (1974–76); President of the Australian Bar Association (1975–76); and a member of the executive of the Law Council of Australia (1974–76). He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in 1981, and a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1988.