Arthur Hunter Palmer
Encyclopedia
Sir Arthur Hunter Palmer KCMG
(28 December 1819 – 20 March 1898) was an Irish
-Australia
n politician and a Premier of Queensland.
Palmer was born in Armagh
, Ireland
, the son of Lieutenant Arthur Palmer, R.N.
, and his wife, Emily née Hunter. Palmer was educated at Youghal
Grammar School and a private tutor in Dublin. Palmer emigrated to New South Wales
in 1838, arriving in Sydney
on the City of Edinburgh. Palmer worked for many years for Henry Carey Dangar on his New England
stations, eventually becoming general manager of all Dangar's holdings. Palmer went to Queensland
and took up land, acting as a magistrate in 1865.
In 1866 Palmer was elected to Parliament as member for Port Curtis
in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
. On 2 August 1867 he became colonial secretary and secretary for public works in the R. R. Mackenzie
ministry, and in September 1868 secretary for public lands. Mackenzie resigned on 25 November 1868 and Palmer went into opposition. On 3 May 1870 Palmer became premier and colonial secretary, and in July 1873 secretary for public works. Palmer's ministry was defeated on 6 January 1874. During his term of office acts were passed which led to much development on account of new railways. Palmer was colonial secretary and secretary for public instruction in the McIlwraith
ministry which came into power in January 1879, but resigned these positions on 24 December 1881 to become president of the Queensland Legislative Council
. Palmer remained in that position until his death. He became Lieutenant Governor of Australia in 1893.
On several occasions Palmer was administrator of the government between 1881 and 1898. He died at Toowong, Queensland
, after a long illness. He married in 1865 Miss Cecilia J. Mosman, who died in 1885, and was survived by three sons and two daughters. He was created K.C.M.G.
in 1881.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(28 December 1819 – 20 March 1898) was an Irish
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
-Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n politician and a Premier of Queensland.
Palmer was born in Armagh
Armagh
Armagh is a large settlement in Northern Ireland, and the county town of County Armagh. It is a site of historical importance for both Celtic paganism and Christianity and is the seat, for both the Roman Catholic Church and the Church of Ireland, of the Archbishop of Armagh...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, the son of Lieutenant Arthur Palmer, R.N.
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
, and his wife, Emily née Hunter. Palmer was educated at Youghal
Youghal
Youghal is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Sitting on the estuary of the River Blackwater, in the past it was militarily and economically important. Being built on the edge of a steep riverbank, the town has a distinctive long and narrow layout...
Grammar School and a private tutor in Dublin. Palmer emigrated to New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
in 1838, arriving in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on the City of Edinburgh. Palmer worked for many years for Henry Carey Dangar on his New England
New England (Australia)
New England or New England North West is the name given to a generally undefined region about 60 kilometres inland, that includes the Northern Tablelands and the North West Slopes regions in the north of the state of New South Wales, Australia.-History:The region has been occupied by Indigenous...
stations, eventually becoming general manager of all Dangar's holdings. Palmer went to Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and took up land, acting as a magistrate in 1865.
In 1866 Palmer was elected to Parliament as member for Port Curtis
Electoral district of Port Curtis
Port Curtis was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Queensland from 1860 to 1992.The district was centred on the regional city of Gladstone. In 1992, it was renamed Gladstone.-Members for Port Curtis:...
in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
. On 2 August 1867 he became colonial secretary and secretary for public works in the R. R. Mackenzie
Robert Mackenzie (Queensland politician)
Sir Robert Ramsay Mackenzie, 10th Baronet was premier of Queensland, Australia from August 1867 to November 1868.-Early life:...
ministry, and in September 1868 secretary for public lands. Mackenzie resigned on 25 November 1868 and Palmer went into opposition. On 3 May 1870 Palmer became premier and colonial secretary, and in July 1873 secretary for public works. Palmer's ministry was defeated on 6 January 1874. During his term of office acts were passed which led to much development on account of new railways. Palmer was colonial secretary and secretary for public instruction in the McIlwraith
Thomas McIlwraith
Sir Thomas McIlwraith KCMG was for many years the dominant figure of colonial politics in Queensland. He was Premier of Queensland from 1877 to 1883, again in 1888, and for a third time in 1893...
ministry which came into power in January 1879, but resigned these positions on 24 December 1881 to become president of the Queensland Legislative Council
Queensland Legislative Council
The Queensland Legislative Council was the upper house of the parliament in the Australian state of Queensland. It was a fully nominated body which first took office on 1 May 1860. It was abolished by the Constitution Amendment Act 1921, which took effect on 23 March 1922.Consequently, the...
. Palmer remained in that position until his death. He became Lieutenant Governor of Australia in 1893.
On several occasions Palmer was administrator of the government between 1881 and 1898. He died at Toowong, Queensland
Toowong, Queensland
Toowong is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia which is located 5 km west of the Brisbane CBD. At the centre of Toowong is a commercial precinct including Toowong Village and several office buildings...
, after a long illness. He married in 1865 Miss Cecilia J. Mosman, who died in 1885, and was survived by three sons and two daughters. He was created K.C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1881.
External links
- Palmer, Sir Arthur Hunter — Brisbane City Council Grave Location Search