Samuel Blackall
Encyclopedia
Colonel Samuel Wensley Blackall (1 May 1809 – 2 January 1871) was an Irish
soldier and politician, who was the second Governor of Queensland from 1868 until he died in office in 1871.
He was born in Dublin, Ireland
into a prosperous Irish family. He attended Trinity College, Dublin
at the age of 15, but did not graduate. In 1827 he joined the 85th (Bucks Volunteers) Regiment of Foot, as an ensign and was appointed a lieutenant in 1832. He sold his commission in 1833 after five years service and joined the Royal Longford Militia, as a major.
He entered Irish public life in 1833, becoming High Sheriff of Longford
for 1833 and, several years later, high sheriff of County Tyrone
for 1862. In between those appointments, he spent four years as an MP in the British House of Commons
for the constituency of Longford
.
From 1851 to 1857, he worked in the colonial service as lieutenant-governor of Dominica
. After some trouble with the Colonial Office
, he returned to colonial service as governor of Sierra Leone
, then governor in chief at the West African Settlements from 1865, and then Governor of Queensland from 1868. Blackall's tenure as governor was dominated by a constitutional crisis
caused by a deadlock in the Queensland Legislative Assembly
.
By 1870, Blackall's health was declining rapidly, and shortly after selecting the highest burial site at the new Toowong Cemetery
, he died in office on 2 January 1871.
The town of Blackall
in Queensland was named after him, as was the Blackall Range
and Blackall Terrace in East Brisbane
.
This was not the same Samuel Blackall who was linked with Jane Austen
as a potential suitor. That Samuel Blackwall was a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, of whom Jane commented in letters to her sister Cassandra, 'There is less love and more sense in it than sometimes appeared before, and I am very satisfied. It will all go on exceedingly well and decline away in a very reasonable manner".
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...
soldier and politician, who was the second Governor of Queensland from 1868 until he died in office in 1871.
He was born in Dublin, 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...
into a prosperous Irish family. He attended Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
at the age of 15, but did not graduate. In 1827 he joined the 85th (Bucks Volunteers) Regiment of Foot, as an ensign and was appointed a lieutenant in 1832. He sold his commission in 1833 after five years service and joined the Royal Longford Militia, as a major.
He entered Irish public life in 1833, becoming High Sheriff of Longford
High Sheriff of Longford
The High Sheriff of Longford was the British Crown’s judicial representative in County Longford, Ireland from the 16th century until 1922, when the office was abolished in the new Free State and replaced by the office of Longford County Sheriff. The sheriff had judicial, electoral, ceremonial and...
for 1833 and, several years later, high sheriff of County Tyrone
High Sheriff of Tyrone
The High Sheriff of Tyrone is the Sovereign's judicial representative in County Tyrone. Initially an office for lifetime, assigned by the Sovereign, the High Sheriff became annually appointed from the Provisions of Oxford in 1258...
for 1862. In between those appointments, he spent four years as an MP in the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for the constituency of Longford
Longford (UK Parliament constituency)
Longford was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, which returned two Members of Parliament to the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1885, and one MP from 1918–1922.- MPs 1801–1885 :- MPs 1918–1922 :...
.
From 1851 to 1857, he worked in the colonial service as lieutenant-governor of Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
. After some trouble with the Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
, he returned to colonial service as governor of Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone
Sierra Leone , officially the Republic of Sierra Leone, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Guinea to the north and east, Liberia to the southeast, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west and southwest. Sierra Leone covers a total area of and has an estimated population between 5.4 and 6.4...
, then governor in chief at the West African Settlements from 1865, and then Governor of Queensland from 1868. Blackall's tenure as governor was dominated by a constitutional crisis
Constitutional crisis
A constitutional crisis is a situation that the legal system's constitution or other basic principles of operation appear unable to resolve; it often results in a breakdown in the orderly operation of government...
caused by a deadlock 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...
.
By 1870, Blackall's health was declining rapidly, and shortly after selecting the highest burial site at the new 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...
, he died in office on 2 January 1871.
The town of Blackall
Blackall, Queensland
-External links:*...
in Queensland was named after him, as was the Blackall Range
Blackall Range
The Blackall Range is a mountain range in South East Queensland, Australia. The first European explorer in the area was Ludwig Leichhardt. It was named after Samuel Blackall, the second Governor of Queensland....
and Blackall Terrace in East Brisbane
East Brisbane, Queensland
East Brisbane is an inner suburb of Brisbane, Australia located 3 km east of the Brisbane CBD. It is predominantly residential, with some original "Queenslander" style homes, but with an increasing number of apartment blocks. Major roads include Lytton Road, Wellington Road and Latrobe...
.
This was not the same Samuel Blackall who was linked with Jane Austen
Jane Austen
Jane Austen was an English novelist whose works of romantic fiction, set among the landed gentry, earned her a place as one of the most widely read writers in English literature, her realism and biting social commentary cementing her historical importance among scholars and critics.Austen lived...
as a potential suitor. That Samuel Blackwall was a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, of whom Jane commented in letters to her sister Cassandra, 'There is less love and more sense in it than sometimes appeared before, and I am very satisfied. It will all go on exceedingly well and decline away in a very reasonable manner".