John Downer
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Sir John William Downer, KCMG (6 July 1843 – 2 August 1915) was the Premier of South Australia from 16 June 1885 until 11 June 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893.
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[edit] Early life
A part of the Downer family, Downer was the son of Henry Downer who came to South Australia in 1838, and was born in Adelaide. He was educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide, where he proved brilliant. He studied for the bar, was admitted to practise on 23 March 1867, and was soon one of the leading Adelaide barristers.
[edit] South Australian politician
Downer became a Q.C. in 1878, and in the same year was elected to the house of assembly for Barossa. He represented this constituency until 1901, only leaving it to enter federal politics. In the house of assembly he quickly made his mark and became attorney-general in John Bray's cabinet on 24 June 1881. He endeavoured to bring in several law reforms, and though his married women's property bill was shelved, he succeeded in carrying bills allowing accused persons to give evidence on oath, and amending the insolvency and marriage acts. The government was defeated in June 1884, but a year later, on 16 June 1885, Downer formed his first ministry taking the positions of premier and attorney-general. Though this ministry lasted two years and passed a fair amount of legislation, it was often in difficulties, and in June 1886 had to be reconstructed.
Downer represented South Australia at the colonial conference held in London in 1887, but his ministry was defeated while he was on his way back to Australia. This ministry was responsible for a tariff imposing increased protective duties. Downer was not in office again for several years, but in October 1892 again became premier, also taking the portfolio of chief secretary. In May 1893 he exchanged this for the position of treasurer, but was ousted in the April 1893 election by liberal Protectionist Kingston with the support of the new Labor Party led by John McPherson. Downer remarked of this party: 'They are very clever fellows. I have great respect for the way they use either side for their purposes with absolute impartiality'. For most of the period until 1899 Downer led the Opposition.
Downer was a strong federalist and had represented South Australia at the 1883 and 1891 conventions. At the latter he took an important part in protecting the interests of the smaller states and was a member of the constitutional committee. He was elected one of the 10 representatives of South Australia at the 1897 convention, and was again on the constitutional committee.
[edit] Federal politician and return to state politics
When federation came, Downer was elected in 1901 as one of the inaugural senators for South Australia in the first Parliament of Australia, but he did not seek re-election in 1903. He entered the South Australian Legislative Council as a representative of the southern district in 1905, and continued to be re-elected until his death on 2 August 1915.
[edit] Legacy
He married (1) Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. J. Henderson, and (2) Una, daughter of H. Russell, who survived him with one son of each marriage. He was created KCMG in 1887. A brother and partner in his business, Henry Edward Downer, entered the South Australian parliament in 1881 and was attorney-general in the John Cockburn ministry from May to August 1890.
Downer was a big man physically and mentally. He was a first-rate advocate, and some of his speeches to juries could hardly have been excelled as examples of forensic art. He was equally successful as a parliamentary speaker, one of his colleagues said of him that in his earlier days he was the best debater in a house that contained Charles Kingston, Frederick Holder, Cockburn, and John Jenkins. He believed in what he was saying, and though earnest could be witty and humorous, and both as a lawyer and a politician was always lucid and logical. In politics he tended to be conservative, he once described himself as a Tory, and possibly on account of this often found himself in a minority during his later years in parliament. He was nevertheless constructive and always advocated the rights of married women to their own property, women's suffrage, protection of local industries, and federation. Though strong in his opinions he was innately kindly, was widely read, an excellent conversationalist, and in all his actions was governed by a strong sense of duty and justice.
Downer's son Alec and grandson Alexander have also both been Australian Federal politicians.
[edit] References
- Serle, Percival (1949). "Downer, John William". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson.
- Bartlett, P. 'Downer, Sir John William (1843 - 1915)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8, MUP, 1981, pp. 330-332.
- This article incorporates text from the public domain 1949 edition of Dictionary of Australian Biography from Project Gutenberg of Australia, which is in the public domain in Australia and the United States of America.
[edit] External links
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by John Colton |
Premier of South Australia 1885–1887 |
Succeeded by Thomas Playford |
| Preceded by Frederick Holder |
Premier of South Australia 1892–1893 |
Succeeded by Charles Kingston |
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