Thomas Reibey
Encyclopedia
Thomas Reibey was an Australia
n politician
and Premier of Tasmania
from 20 July 1876 until 9 August 1877.
Reiby was born in Hadspen
, Van Diemen's Land
, (now Tasmania
) the son of Thomas Haydock Reibey and Richarda Allen, and a grandson of Mary Reibey
. Reibey was educated at Trinity College, Oxford
. His father died before he graduated and he returned to Tasmania.
In 1843 Reiby was admitted to Holy Orders by Bishop Francis Nixon
. He was for some years rector of Holy Trinity church, Launceston, and afterwards rector of Carrick, where he built and partly endowed a church. About 1858 he became archdeacon of Launceston.
as member for Westbury in 1874 and continued to represent it for 29 years. From March 1875 to July 1876 he was leader of the opposition and then became premier and colonial secretary. But parties were not clearly defined, there was much faction, and his ministry lasted only a little more than a year. He was again leader of the opposition from August 1877 to December 1878 when he became colonial secretary in the William Crowther
ministry until October 1879. In July 1887 he was elected speaker of the house of assembly and competently filled the position until July 1891. He was minister without portfolio in the Edward Braddon
ministry from April 1894 to October 1899.
Four years later Reibey retired from politics and confined his interests to country pursuits for the remainder of his long life. He had two estates and kept a stud of horses which he raced purely for the love of sport. In 1882 he won the Launceston Cup
and had just failed to win the Melbourne Cup
with Stockwell — he bought Malua
as a yearling, which won the Melbourne Cup in 1884. He retired from racing towards the end of his life on account of his disapproval of some incidents that had occurred in connection with it. He was president of more than one racing club and gave much energy to the improvement of agriculture as president of the Northern Agricultural Society. Keeping his faculties to the end he died aged 90 on 10 February 1912. He married in 1842 Catherine McDonall, daughter of James Kyle of Inverness, who predeceased him. He had no children.
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
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and Premier of Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
from 20 July 1876 until 9 August 1877.
Reiby was born in Hadspen
Hadspen, Tasmania
Hadspen is a small Australian town, located on the South Esk River in the north of Tasmania, just south west of Launceston.The centrepiece of the town is the historic property Entally House, the family home of Thomas Reibey who was the Premier of Tasmania from 1876 to 1877.-External links:*...
, Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
, (now Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) the son of Thomas Haydock Reibey and Richarda Allen, and a grandson of Mary Reibey
Mary Reibey
Mary Reibey was an Englishwoman who was transported to Australia as a convict but went on to become a successful businesswoman in Sydney.-Early life:...
. Reibey was educated at Trinity College, Oxford
Trinity College, Oxford
The College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity in the University of Oxford, of the foundation of Sir Thomas Pope , or Trinity College for short, is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. It stands on Broad Street, next door to Balliol College and Blackwells bookshop,...
. His father died before he graduated and he returned to Tasmania.
In 1843 Reiby was admitted to Holy Orders by Bishop Francis Nixon
Francis Russell Nixon
Francis Russell Nixon was the first Bishop of Tasmania.Nixon was the son of Rev. Robert Nixon, an amateur painter. Nixon was educated at the Merchant Taylors school and St John's College, Oxford, graduating BA 1827 and subsequently MA and DD. He was chaplain at Naples and afterwards held the...
. He was for some years rector of Holy Trinity church, Launceston, and afterwards rector of Carrick, where he built and partly endowed a church. About 1858 he became archdeacon of Launceston.
Political career
Reibey entered the Tasmanian House of AssemblyTasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
as member for Westbury in 1874 and continued to represent it for 29 years. From March 1875 to July 1876 he was leader of the opposition and then became premier and colonial secretary. But parties were not clearly defined, there was much faction, and his ministry lasted only a little more than a year. He was again leader of the opposition from August 1877 to December 1878 when he became colonial secretary in the William Crowther
William Crowther (Australian politician)
William Lodewyk Crowther FRCS was an Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.-Early life:...
ministry until October 1879. In July 1887 he was elected speaker of the house of assembly and competently filled the position until July 1891. He was minister without portfolio in the Edward Braddon
Edward Braddon
Sir Edward Nicholas Coventry Braddon, KCMG , Australian politician, was the Premier of Tasmania from 1894 to 1899, and was a Member of the First Australian Parliament in the House of Representatives...
ministry from April 1894 to October 1899.
Four years later Reibey retired from politics and confined his interests to country pursuits for the remainder of his long life. He had two estates and kept a stud of horses which he raced purely for the love of sport. In 1882 he won the Launceston Cup
Launceston Cup
The Launcston Cup is a Tasmanian Turf Club Group 3 open handicap Thoroughbred horse race run over a distance of 2400 metres at Launceston Racecourse in Mowbray in February. It is competed for prize money of A$300,000....
and had just failed to win the Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
with Stockwell — he bought Malua
Malua (horse)
Malua was the most versatile Australian Thoroughbred racehorse in history. Malua won over distances ranging from 5½ furlongs to 3¼ miles .-Breeding:He was a son of St. Albans from Edella by Peter Wilkins...
as a yearling, which won the Melbourne Cup in 1884. He retired from racing towards the end of his life on account of his disapproval of some incidents that had occurred in connection with it. He was president of more than one racing club and gave much energy to the improvement of agriculture as president of the Northern Agricultural Society. Keeping his faculties to the end he died aged 90 on 10 February 1912. He married in 1842 Catherine McDonall, daughter of James Kyle of Inverness, who predeceased him. He had no children.
Further reading
- Blomfield, Henry Wilson.(1870) A full report of the great libel case, Reibey v. Blomfield : tried at the Supreme Court, Launceston, before His Honor Sir Francis Smith, Knt., Chief Justice, June 1870. Launceston [Tas.] : Printed and published by Harris and Just, [1870] The great libel case, Reibey v. Blomfield. Great libel case, Reibey v.Blomfield.