John Sinclair (mayor)
Encyclopedia
John Sinclair was an alderman
and mayor
of Brisbane
.
, Lanarkshire
, Scotland
on 8 December 1827, the son of John Sinclair and Jane Smith.
John Sinclair married Jane Kelman in Brisbane on 11 August 1857. They had several children (most of whom died in infancy)::
His wife Jane died in Brisbane on 11 February 1872.
Tragically, two of the children who survived infancy died as young adults. His daughter Margaret died in Brisbane on 10 August 1886 aged 22 years from a cold that escalated into diphtheria
. His son James died six months later; he drowned while droving
cattle across Kyabra Creek at Euroongoola Station in Western Queensland on 27 Feb 1887 aged 21 years.
On 14 January 1888 in Brisbane, John Sinclair married again to Constance Isabel Georgina Geoghegan, the daughter of Thomas Geoghegan and Margaret Maria Hebden. They had two children:
His second wife Constance died at their home, Delholm, Kangaroo Point
on 21 May 1893.
Having lost both wives, John Sinclair spend his later years in poor health, living at his home, Delholm, at 393 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, attended by a housekeeper, a groom and a male nurse.
John Sinclair died at Kangaroo Point
, Brisbane
on 5 May 1906 aged 79 years and was buried in Toowong Cemetery
, together with his second wife Constance and his two of his adult children Margaret and James.
on the steamer
Boomerang, which brought
to Brisbane the news of the fall of Sevastopol and of the Eureka Stockade
. Later he settled in Brisbane and worked as an engineer. In 1868 he was appointed as manager of Queensland Iron Works, owned by Robert R. Smellie. He was such a success as a manager in expanding the business that he became a partner in 1972. The iron shipbuilding branch of the business was responsible for building the Louisa, a cargo steamer that was used for trade along the Brisbane River
between Ipswich
and Moreton Bay
.
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
for the ward of Kangaroo Point
from 1871 until 1874 when he retired. In 1876 he was elected again as alderman. He was mayor
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
in 1880 and 1881 and then retired again in 1882. However, he was elected again as alderman in 1886 and 1887, after which he finally retired from the council.
He served on the following committees:
In Sept 1881, during his time as mayor, Brisbane received a royal visit from Prince Edward (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Earl of Athlone
) and his brother Prince George (later George V of the United Kingdom
). Assisted by his daughters Jessie and Margaret, John Sinclair entertained the royal party at a ball in the old Exhibition Building, a function of great brilliance.
Alderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
and mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Personal life
John Sinclair was born at GovanGovan
Govan is a district and former burgh now part of southwest City of Glasgow, Scotland. It is situated west of Glasgow city centre, on the south bank of the River Clyde, opposite the mouth of the River Kelvin and the district of Partick....
, Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire
Lanarkshire or the County of Lanark ) is a Lieutenancy area, registration county and former local government county in the central Lowlands of Scotland...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
on 8 December 1827, the son of John Sinclair and Jane Smith.
John Sinclair married Jane Kelman in Brisbane on 11 August 1857. They had several children (most of whom died in infancy)::
- Jessie Jane Sinclair, born about 1859, married to George Robert Townsend on 23 February 1881
- John Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 10 May 1860, died 9 January 1863
- Christine Swan Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 2 April 1862, died in Brisbane on 7 January 1863
- Margaret Callander Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 18 December 1863
- James Swan Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 12 August 1865
- Jane Kelman Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 17 January 1867, died in Brisbane on 4 April 1867
- Matilda Maria Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 21 February 1869, died in Brisbane on 4 May 1869
His wife Jane died in Brisbane on 11 February 1872.
Tragically, two of the children who survived infancy died as young adults. His daughter Margaret died in Brisbane on 10 August 1886 aged 22 years from a cold that escalated into diphtheria
Diphtheria
Diphtheria is an upper respiratory tract illness caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium. It is characterized by sore throat, low fever, and an adherent membrane on the tonsils, pharynx, and/or nasal cavity...
. His son James died six months later; he drowned while droving
Droving
Droving is the practice of moving livestock over large distances by walking them "on the hoof".Droving stock to market, usually on foot and often with the aid of dogs, has a very long history in the old world...
cattle across Kyabra Creek at Euroongoola Station in Western Queensland on 27 Feb 1887 aged 21 years.
On 14 January 1888 in Brisbane, John Sinclair married again to Constance Isabel Georgina Geoghegan, the daughter of Thomas Geoghegan and Margaret Maria Hebden. They had two children:
- Arthur John Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 29 October 1888, married Rosa Gertrude Chuter on 16 Nov 1911
- Hazel Jean Sinclair, born in Brisbane on 13 April 1892, married John Lionel Barry on 3 June 1913
His second wife Constance died at their home, Delholm, Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point can be either:* Kangaroo Point, New South Wales - a suburb in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia* Kangaroo Point, Hornsby, New South Wales - a suburb in Hornsby Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
on 21 May 1893.
Having lost both wives, John Sinclair spend his later years in poor health, living at his home, Delholm, at 393 Main Street, Kangaroo Point, attended by a housekeeper, a groom and a male nurse.
John Sinclair died at Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point can be either:* Kangaroo Point, New South Wales - a suburb in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia* Kangaroo Point, Hornsby, New South Wales - a suburb in Hornsby Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
on 5 May 1906 aged 79 years and was buried in Toowong Cemetery
Toowong Cemetery
The Brisbane General Cemetery also known as Toowong Cemetery at Toowong, Brisbane was established in 1866 and formally opened in 1875. It is Queensland's largest cemetery and is located on forty-four hectares of land at the corner of Frederick Street and Mount Coot-tha Road approximately four and a...
, together with his second wife Constance and his two of his adult children Margaret and James.
Business Life
In 1854 John Sinclair came to Brisbane as engineerEngineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
on the steamer
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
Boomerang, which brought
to Brisbane the news of the fall of Sevastopol and of the Eureka Stockade
Eureka Stockade
The Eureka Rebellion of 1854 was an organised rebellion by gold miners which occurred at Eureka Lead in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. The Battle of Eureka Stockade was fought on 3 December 1854 and named for the stockade structure erected by miners during the conflict...
. Later he settled in Brisbane and worked as an engineer. In 1868 he was appointed as manager of Queensland Iron Works, owned by Robert R. Smellie. He was such a success as a manager in expanding the business that he became a partner in 1972. The iron shipbuilding branch of the business was responsible for building the Louisa, a cargo steamer that was used for trade along the Brisbane River
Brisbane River
The Brisbane River is the longest river in south east Queensland, Australia, and flows through the city of Brisbane, before emptying into Moreton Bay. John Oxley was the first European to explore the river who named it after the Governor of New South Wales, Thomas Brisbane in 1823...
between Ipswich
Ipswich, Queensland
Ipswich is a city in South-East Queensland, Australia. Situated along the Bremer River Valley approximately 40 kilometres away from the state's capital Brisbane. The suburb by the same name forms the city's Central Business District and administrative centre...
and Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay
Moreton Bay is a bay on the eastern coast of Australia 45 km from Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources...
.
Public Life
John Sinclair was an aldermanAlderman
An alderman is a member of a municipal assembly or council in many jurisdictions founded upon English law. The term may be titular, denoting a high-ranking member of a borough or county council, a council member chosen by the elected members themselves rather than by popular vote, or a council...
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
Brisbane Municipal Council
-History:On 7 September 1859, Brisbane was proclaimed a municipality. Thus after the passing of the Municipal Institutions Act 1864 the area could establish a municipal council to administer the district - with powers relating to by-laws, to rating, to borrowings, to the control or regulation of...
for the ward of Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point
Kangaroo Point can be either:* Kangaroo Point, New South Wales - a suburb in Sutherland Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia* Kangaroo Point, Hornsby, New South Wales - a suburb in Hornsby Shire, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
from 1871 until 1874 when he retired. In 1876 he was elected again as alderman. He was mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
of the Brisbane Municipal Council
Brisbane Municipal Council
-History:On 7 September 1859, Brisbane was proclaimed a municipality. Thus after the passing of the Municipal Institutions Act 1864 the area could establish a municipal council to administer the district - with powers relating to by-laws, to rating, to borrowings, to the control or regulation of...
in 1880 and 1881 and then retired again in 1882. However, he was elected again as alderman in 1886 and 1887, after which he finally retired from the council.
He served on the following committees:
- Finance Committee 1871, 1872, 1874, 1878, 1887
- Legislative Committee 1872 - 1874, 1876, 1877, 1879–1881, 1886, 1887
- Improvement Committee 1877, 1879–1881
- Brisbane Board of Waterworks 1879 - 1901
- Wharfage Committee 1881
- Town Hall Committee 1886
- Works Committee 1886
In Sept 1881, during his time as mayor, Brisbane received a royal visit from Prince Edward (later Duke of Clarence and Avondale and Earl of Athlone
Earl of Athlone
The title of Earl of Athlone has been created three times. It was created first in the Peerage of Ireland in 1692 by King William III for the Dutch General Baron Godard van Reede, Lord of Ginkel, to honour him for his successful battles in Ireland. The title also had the subsidiary title of Baron...
) and his brother Prince George (later George V of the United Kingdom
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
). Assisted by his daughters Jessie and Margaret, John Sinclair entertained the royal party at a ball in the old Exhibition Building, a function of great brilliance.