John Greig Latham was born in Ascot Vale, Melbourne. The eldest of five children, he was educated at George Street State School (Fitzroy), Scotch College and the University of Melbourne. After graduating with a Master of Arts and a Master of Law, he practiced law. To supplement his income, he also lectured in law at the University of Melbourne and was a journalist for the Melbourne 'Argus' and the London 'Standard'. Latham was called to the Victorian Bar in 1904. He became interested in politics through the Deakinite Liberal Party, and in 1915 campaigned for the introduction of conscription. 

During World War I, Latham held an appointment in naval intelligence with the honorary rank of Lieutenant Commander. In 1918, he attended the Imperial War Conference in London as adviser to the Minister for the Navy (Sir Joseph Cook). The following year, at the Versailles Peace Conference, Latham was a member of the committee which determined Czechoslovakia's borders. He later founded and became first President of the League of Nations Union in Australia. Latham returned to the Bar in 1919 but, in 1921, declined appointment as a judge to the Supreme Court of Victoria.

In 1922, Latham was elected to the House of Representatives for the Victorian seat of Kooyong. He held the seat until 1934 when he resigned to return once again to the Bar. Although elected initially as an Independent Liberal Union candidate, he later joined the Nationalist Party and then the United Australia Party. 

In the Bruce-Page Coalition Government, Latham held the portfolios of Attorney-General (1925-29) and Industry (1928-29). During the Scullin Government, as Leader of the Nationalist Party, he was also Leader of the Opposition (1929-31). However, on the establishment of the United Australia Party, he stood down to become Deputy Leader of the Opposition under J A Lyons (1931-32). In the first Lyons Ministry, Latham was Deputy Prime Minister, and held the portfolios of Attorney-General, External Affairs and Industry (1932-34). In this period he also represented Australia at several important overseas conferences. As Leader of the Australian Mission to the Far East (1934), he became the first Minister for External Affairs to visit South East Asia.

In 1935, Latham was appointed Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia. He remained in this position until his retirement in 1952, apart from a short period during World War II when he was Australian Minister to Japan (1940-41). Latham was also Chancellor of the University of Melbourne (1939-41 and Deputy Chancellor from 1935); President of the Free Library Movement of Victoria (1937-48), Australian Congress for Cultural Freedom, Australian-American Association (1951-64), Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust (1954-61); Vice-President of the Australian Red Cross Society (1944-61); and a director of Humes Ltd and other companies.

Latham was created a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1920 and a Knight Grand Cross of the same Order (GCMG) in 1935. He was made a King's Counsel in 1922 and a Privy Councillor in 1933. Sir John died in Melbourne on 25 July 1964.

Publications:

Australia and the British Commonwealth of Nations (London, Macmillan and Co, 1929)
Essays on the Australian Constitution (contributor) (Sydney, Law Book Company, 1952)

Sources:

Australian Dictionary of Biography, Vol 10, 1891-1939, pp 2-6
Joan Rydon: A Biographical Register of the Commonwealth Parliament,
 1901-1972 (Canberra, ANU Press, 1975)
C A Hughes & B D Graham: A Handbook of Australian Government and
 Politics, 1890-1964 (Canberra, ANU Press, 1968)
Parliamentary Handbook, 1931-35 (8th ed)
Who's Who in Australia 1962 (17th ed), p 495

Agency associated with person unregistered

       1926-       1926: League of Nations - Australian Delegate
       1926-       1926: Imperial Conference - Australian
                         Representative
       1927-       1927: League of Nations - Australian Delegate
12 Oct 1929-04 Mar 1931: National Party - Leader of the Opposition
04 Mar 1931-19 Dec 1931: Deputy Leader of the Opposition
       1932-       1932: Disarmament and Repatriations Conference -
                         Australian Representative
       1934-       1934: Australian Eastern Mission to Dutch East
                         Indies, China, and Japan - Leader of Mission
       1935-       1935: Australian Law Council - President
       1935-       1935: Australian Legal Convention - President
       1937-       1937: Free Library Movement, Victoria - President
       1940-       1941: Minister representing Australia in Japan
       1943-       1947: Australia-Netherlands Society - President
?      1944-       1956: Victorian Lacrosse Association - Patron
?      1944-       1956: Victorian Amateur Athletics Association -
                         President
       1944-       1961: Australian Red Cross - Vice-President
       1951-?          : Australian - American Association -
                         President
       1952-       1961: Fulbright Scholarship Board - Member
       1953-       1953: Centenary Celebrations, New Caledonia -
                         Australian Representative
       1954-       1961: Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust - 
                         President
       1954-       1961: Australian Association for Cultural
                         Freedom - President