John Thomas Smith
Encyclopedia
John Thomas Smith was an Australia
n politician and seven times Mayor of Melbourne.
, the son of John Smith, a Scottish shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth, née Biggs. He was educated under William Timothy Cape
. Smith was apprenticed at 14 years of age to Beaver & Co., builders and joiners, but this was cancelled in 1833. Smith served as a clerk of the recently established Bank of Australasia, but in September 1837 obtained the appointment of schoolmaster at an aboriginal
mission station in the colony of Victoria
at a salary of £40 a year. Shortly afterwards he went into business as a grocer, and was in the timber trade in 1840. Smith took over the Adelphi Hotel, Flinders Lane, in July 1841 from his brother-in-law Robert Brettagh, and in 1844 became licensee of St John's Tavern, Queen Street
, in place of Brettagh.
In November 1854, at the time of the Eureka stockade
rebellion, Smith took an active part in raising special constables, as there were rumours that attacks on the treasury and banks were contemplated. He was especially thanked by the governor, Sir Charles Hotham, who said there was "no person in the country to whom he was more indebted". Smith had been elected to the Victorian Legislative Council
in 1851 for North Bourke, and in 1856, when responsible government came in, he was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
as one of the representatives of Melbourne. At subsequent elections he was returned for Creswick, and West Bourke, retaining his seat until his death on 30 January 1879, when he was the "Father of the House
". His wife and children survived him.
Smith took great interest in various charities, for example, moving the motion (subsequently carried) in 1848 for the establishment of a Benevolent Asylum. Smith advocated reductions in the hours of labour and generally was an active and useful member of Council and Parliament, though he only once attained cabinet rank; he was Minister of Mines in the John Alexander MacPherson
Government from September 1869 to April 1870.
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 seven times Mayor of Melbourne.
Early life
Smith was born at SydneySydney
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...
, the son of John Smith, a Scottish shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth, née Biggs. He was educated under William Timothy Cape
William Timothy Cape
William Timothy Cape was an early school master in Sydney, Australia; several of the Premiers of New South Wales attended his school....
. Smith was apprenticed at 14 years of age to Beaver & Co., builders and joiners, but this was cancelled in 1833. Smith served as a clerk of the recently established Bank of Australasia, but in September 1837 obtained the appointment of schoolmaster at an aboriginal
Indigenous Australians
Indigenous Australians are the original inhabitants of the Australian continent and nearby islands. The Aboriginal Indigenous Australians migrated from the Indian continent around 75,000 to 100,000 years ago....
mission station in the colony of Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
at a salary of £40 a year. Shortly afterwards he went into business as a grocer, and was in the timber trade in 1840. Smith took over the Adelphi Hotel, Flinders Lane, in July 1841 from his brother-in-law Robert Brettagh, and in 1844 became licensee of St John's Tavern, Queen Street
Queen Street, Melbourne
Queen Street is a street in the Melbourne central business district, forming part of the famous Hoddle Grid. It runs roughly from north to south. The northern end of Queen Street intersects with Victoria Street, while its southern end intersects with Flinders Street...
, in place of Brettagh.
Politics
At the first election for the Melbourne city council, held on 1 December 1842, Smith was elected a Councillor for the Bourke Ward, and except for a short interval, he was on the Council for the remainder of his life. In 1851 he was elected Mayor of Melbourne and was subsequently elected to that position seven times, his last year of office being 1864.In November 1854, at the time 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...
rebellion, Smith took an active part in raising special constables, as there were rumours that attacks on the treasury and banks were contemplated. He was especially thanked by the governor, Sir Charles Hotham, who said there was "no person in the country to whom he was more indebted". Smith had been elected to 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...
in 1851 for North Bourke, and in 1856, when responsible government came in, he was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
as one of the representatives of Melbourne. At subsequent elections he was returned for Creswick, and West Bourke, retaining his seat until his death on 30 January 1879, when he was the "Father of the House
Father of the House
Father of the House is a term that has by tradition been unofficially bestowed on certain members of some national legislatures, most notably the House of Commons in the United Kingdom. In some legislatures the term refers to the oldest member, but in others it refers the longest-serving member.The...
". His wife and children survived him.
Smith took great interest in various charities, for example, moving the motion (subsequently carried) in 1848 for the establishment of a Benevolent Asylum. Smith advocated reductions in the hours of labour and generally was an active and useful member of Council and Parliament, though he only once attained cabinet rank; he was Minister of Mines in the John Alexander MacPherson
John Alexander MacPherson
John Alexander MacPherson , Australian colonial politician, was the 7th Premier of Victoria.MacPherson was born at his father's property of Springbank on the Limestone Plains, in New South Wales : he was the first Premier of Victoria born in Australia. His father was a Scottish Presbyterian...
Government from September 1869 to April 1870.