Melius de Villiers

Melius de Villiers
Chief Justice of the Orange Free State
In office
1889-1901
Appointed byF. W. Reitz
Preceded byF. W. Reitz
Judge of the High Court of Justice of the Orange Free State
In office
1876-1889
Appointed byJohannes Brand
Personal details
Born(1849-09-05)September 5, 1849
DiedJuly 6, 1938(1938-07-06) (aged 88)
Kleine Zalze, Stellenbosch
SpouseAdelaide Holmes-Orr
RelativesJohn Henry de Villiers (brother)
Alma materPaarl Gymnasium
South African College Schools

Melius de Villiers (5 September 1849 – 6 July 1938) was a South African jurist, sometimes considered one of the country's most influential, and the last Chief Justice of the Orange Free State. His older brother was Chief Justice of South Africa John Henry de Villiers. Melius's book, The Roman And Roman-Dutch Law of Injuries, published in 1899, is an historically significant study of the actio iniuriarum and a foundational text in the South African law of delict.