comeback that helped propel him to national prominence. A new article by historian Patrick Mullins explores the extraordinary rise of Richard Meagher, a New South Wales solicitor who transformed professional disgrace into lasting political success. Meagher first gained notoriety during the 1895 Dean Case, when he defended Sydney ferryman George Dean, accused of attempting to poison his wife, Mary Dean. Despite later learning that Dean was guilty, Meagher mounted a public campaign portraying him as a victim of injustice, successfully swaying public opinion and securing a royal commission that led to Dean's release. The controversy eventually resulted in Meagher being struck off as a solicitor, but his popularity soared. He won a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly soon afterward and later became a leading figure in the newly federated nation, serving as Lord Mayor of Sydney and a federal politician. Historians argue Meagher's ability to cast himself and his client as martyrs, attack institutions, and mobilise public sentiment created a political strategy still recognizable in modern Australian politics.