John Mark Davies
Encyclopedia
Sir John Mark Davies KCMG (8 February 184012 September 1919) was an English-born Australia
n politician.
Born in Halstead, England in 1840, Davies was the fifth eldest of the six boys and six girls of Ebenezer Davies and Ruth Bartlett. Two of the younger boys were educated at Geelong Grammar School
. John Mark was articled in 1852 and in 1863 was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria
as a solicitor. He worked as a partner in a law firm for some years, and was President of the Law Institute of Victoria
in 1885-86; he was made the group's first honorary life member in 1919. He served in the Victorian Legislative Council
from 1889 to 1919, representing the South Yarra Province (1889-1895) and was Minister for Health for two months in 1891. He was the Solicitor-General under both Allan McLean
(1899-1900) and William Irvine
(1902-1903), and later Irvine's Minister for Public Instruction (1903) and Attorney-General (1903-1904). Under Thomas Bent
, he was both Solicitor and Attorney-General (1904-1909), and he was the President of the Victorian Legislative Council
from 1910 to 1919. He resigned from the Parliament on 6 July 1919, after suffering a stroke
.
Davies was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
(KCMG) in January 1918. He died in 1919 and was given a state funeral
. The home he had purchased in 1892, Valentine's Mansion, became the site of Malvern Grammar School (now the Malvern Campus of Caulfield Grammar School
), and was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register
in 1975. The Davies family lived in Valentines until 1919 when they moved to Little Valentines in Wattletree Road, Glen Iris.
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.
Born in Halstead, England in 1840, Davies was the fifth eldest of the six boys and six girls of Ebenezer Davies and Ruth Bartlett. Two of the younger boys were educated at Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School
Geelong Grammar School is an independent, Anglican, co-educational, boarding and day school. The school's main campus is located at Corio, on the northern outskirts of Geelong, Victoria, Australia, overlooking Corio Bay and Limeburners Bay....
. John Mark was articled in 1852 and in 1863 was admitted to the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
as a solicitor. He worked as a partner in a law firm for some years, and was President of the Law Institute of Victoria
Law Institute of Victoria
The Law Institute Victoria is a legal society in the Australian State of Victoria. It is the professional association for solicitors in Victoria, making rules to regulate their practice, and representing them to governments and other bodies. The Institute was founded in 1859...
in 1885-86; he was made the group's first honorary life member in 1919. He served in the Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
from 1889 to 1919, representing the South Yarra Province (1889-1895) and was Minister for Health for two months in 1891. He was the Solicitor-General under both Allan McLean
Allan McLean (Australian politician)
Allan McLean was an Australian politician, the 19th Premier of Victoria.McLean was born in the highlands of Scotland and came to Australia as a child in 1842 with his family. He later said 'were practically frozen out of Scotland' by 'an exceptionally severe winter'...
(1899-1900) and William Irvine
William Irvine (Australian politician)
Sir William Hill Irvine GCMG , Australian politician and judge, was the 21st Premier of Victoria. Irvine was born in Newry in County Down, Ireland, into a Scottish-Presbyterian family...
(1902-1903), and later Irvine's Minister for Public Instruction (1903) and Attorney-General (1903-1904). Under Thomas Bent
Thomas Bent
Sir Thomas Bent KCMG , Australian politician, was the 22nd Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most colourful and corrupt politicians in Victorian history....
, he was both Solicitor and Attorney-General (1904-1909), and he was the President of the Victorian Legislative Council
President of the Victorian Legislative Council
The President of the Victorian Legislative Council, also known as the Presiding Officer of the Council, is the presiding officer of the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria and equivalent to the President of the Australian Senate...
from 1910 to 1919. He resigned from the Parliament on 6 July 1919, after suffering a stroke
Stroke
A stroke, previously known medically as a cerebrovascular accident , is the rapidly developing loss of brain function due to disturbance in the blood supply to the brain. This can be due to ischemia caused by blockage , or a hemorrhage...
.
Davies was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
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....
(KCMG) in January 1918. He died in 1919 and was given a state funeral
State funeral
A state funeral is a public funeral ceremony, observing the strict rules of protocol, held to honor heads of state or other important people of national significance. State funerals usually include much pomp and ceremony as well as religious overtones and distinctive elements of military tradition...
. The home he had purchased in 1892, Valentine's Mansion, became the site of Malvern Grammar School (now the Malvern Campus of Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School
Caulfield Grammar School is an independent, co-educational, Anglican, day and boarding school, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Founded in 1881 as a boys' school, Caulfield began admitting girls exactly one hundred years later...
), and was placed on the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
in 1975. The Davies family lived in Valentines until 1919 when they moved to Little Valentines in Wattletree Road, Glen Iris.