Harold Hanson

Harold Joseph Hanson (9 August 1904 – 17 February 1973) was an eminent South African advocate (QC) and Senior Member of the Johannesburg Bar Council. He was born in Johannesburg to Ralph Hanson, a Rand pioneer and Clara Lewis. Harold Hanson first married May Koseff with whom he had a daughter. His second marriage was in 1945 to Anna Marie Berger (known as Anita). They had two daughters and a son. Anita predeceased Harold by 18 years, after which he married Cissie Pincus.

Harold Hanson was educated at Twist Street Government Primary School, Johannesburg and King Edward VII High School where he passed the Matriculation Exam at the age of fourteen. He studied law at the University of the Witwatersrand and was called to the Bar in 1926 at the age of 22. He subsequently built up a large practice in Johannesburg dealing with civil, criminal and political cases. He was appointed a KC (later known as QC) in 1946.

Harold Hanson was regarded as a very sound lawyer and a brilliant trial advocate. He appeared for the plaintiff, defendant or accused in a number of the most important and lengthy cases in South African legal history. These included action for damages for defamation brought by the founder of the Alexander Technique of psycho-physical education against Drs Jokl, Cleaver and Clark (1946-48); The Parity Insurance Company case (State vs. Heller) in which he defended the accused charged with fraud (1968–70) and the Gentrico A.G vs. Firestone SA (Pty) Ltd in what has been...
Read More