William Henry Fancourt Mitchell
Encyclopedia
Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell (1811 – 24 November 1884) was an Australia
n politician. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester
, England
.
Mitchell came to Tasmania
in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service. In 1839 he became assistant colonial secretary. On 21 August 1841, he married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton of Glasgow. On 21 March 1842, he resigned his appointment and in April they sailed for Port Phillip where he acquired Barfold
station near Kyneton
and a property in Mount Macedon
districts becoming a large proprietor.
Mitchell entered the provisional Victorian Legislative Council
in 1852. He was appointed by lieutenant-governor Charles La Trobe
the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Victoria Police
, commencing on 8 January 1853, amalgamating all the previous colonial police forces. During his leadership, the force increased from 700 to 2000 men, despite defections of large numbers who joined the gold rush
. He succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. During his leadership the situation on the gold fields of Ballarat deteriorated culminating in the Battle of Eureka Stockade on 4 December 1854. Mitchell resigned the position in 1854 and was succeeded as Chief Commissioner by Captain Charles MacMahon
. The Mitchells then paid a visit to England during 1854-55. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry criticized the handling of the disturbances and resulted in a drastic reduction of police numbers.
He returned to Victoria towards the end of 1855, and in 1856 was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, when responsible government
was instituted in Victoria, as one of the members for North-western Province.
He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death in 1884. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines
ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator. Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy
ministry from 30 December 1861 until the government was defeated on 27 June 1863 over land reform. He did not hold office again.
During the conflict between the Legislative Assembly and the Council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected second President of the Legilative Council on 27 October 1870,
Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell (1811 – 24 November 1884) was an Australia
n politician. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester
, England
.
Mitchell came to Tasmania
in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service. In 1839 he became assistant colonial secretary. On 21 August 1841, he married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton of Glasgow. On 21 March 1842, he resigned his appointment and in April they sailed for Port Phillip where he acquired Barfold
station near Kyneton
and a property in Mount Macedon
districts becoming a large proprietor.
Mitchell entered the provisional Victorian Legislative Council
in 1852. He was appointed by lieutenant-governor Charles La Trobe
the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Victoria Police
, commencing on 8 January 1853, amalgamating all the previous colonial police forces. During his leadership, the force increased from 700 to 2000 men, despite defections of large numbers who joined the gold rush
. He succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. During his leadership the situation on the gold fields of Ballarat deteriorated culminating in the Battle of Eureka Stockade on 4 December 1854. Mitchell resigned the position in 1854 and was succeeded as Chief Commissioner by Captain Charles MacMahon
. The Mitchells then paid a visit to England during 1854-55. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry criticized the handling of the disturbances and resulted in a drastic reduction of police numbers.
He returned to Victoria towards the end of 1855, and in 1856 was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, when responsible government
was instituted in Victoria, as one of the members for North-western Province.
He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death in 1884. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines
ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator. Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy
ministry from 30 December 1861 until the government was defeated on 27 June 1863 over land reform. He did not hold office again.
During the conflict between the Legislative Assembly and the Council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected second President of the Legilative Council on 27 October 1870,
Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell (1811 – 24 November 1884) was an Australia
n politician. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester
, England
.
Mitchell came to Tasmania
in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service. In 1839 he became assistant colonial secretary. On 21 August 1841, he married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton of Glasgow. On 21 March 1842, he resigned his appointment and in April they sailed for Port Phillip where he acquired Barfold
station near Kyneton
and a property in Mount Macedon
districts becoming a large proprietor.
Mitchell entered the provisional Victorian Legislative Council
in 1852. He was appointed by lieutenant-governor Charles La Trobe
the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Victoria Police
, commencing on 8 January 1853, amalgamating all the previous colonial police forces. During his leadership, the force increased from 700 to 2000 men, despite defections of large numbers who joined the gold rush
. He succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. During his leadership the situation on the gold fields of Ballarat deteriorated culminating in the Battle of Eureka Stockade on 4 December 1854. Mitchell resigned the position in 1854 and was succeeded as Chief Commissioner by Captain Charles MacMahon
. The Mitchells then paid a visit to England during 1854-55. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry criticized the handling of the disturbances and resulted in a drastic reduction of police numbers.
He returned to Victoria towards the end of 1855, and in 1856 was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, when responsible government
was instituted in Victoria, as one of the members for North-western Province.
He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death in 1884. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines
ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator. Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy
ministry from 30 December 1861 until the government was defeated on 27 June 1863 over land reform. He did not hold office again.
During the conflict between the Legislative Assembly and the Council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected second President of the Legilative Council on 27 October 1870,Parliament of Victoria and carried out his duties with ability, decision and courtesy. In the struggle with the assembly he fought for the privileges of the council, and advocated that the qualifications for both members and electors be further reduced.
He was knighted in 1875.
He died at Barfold after a short illness on 24 November 1884, and was survived by 9 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. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Mitchell came to 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...
in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service. In 1839 he became assistant colonial secretary. On 21 August 1841, he married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton of Glasgow. On 21 March 1842, he resigned his appointment and in April they sailed for Port Phillip where he acquired Barfold
Barfold, Victoria
Barfold is a locality situated on the Heathcote-Kyneton Road in Victoria, Australia. It has a community hall, Barfold Hall, and an Anglican church, Barfold Union Church....
station near Kyneton
Kyneton, Victoria
Kyneton is a town on the Calder Highway in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire. The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street...
and a property in Mount Macedon
Mount Macedon, Victoria
Mount Macedon is a small town located northwest of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria. It is situated on the side of the mountain of the same name, known as Geboor by the indigenous Wurundjeri people, which rises to above sea level. At the 2006 census, Mount Macedon had a population...
districts becoming a large proprietor.
Mitchell entered the provisional 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 1852. He was appointed by lieutenant-governor Charles La Trobe
Charles La Trobe
Charles Joseph La Trobe was the first lieutenant-governor of the colony of Victoria .-Early life:La Trobe was born in London, the son of Christian Ignatius Latrobe, a family of Huguenot origin...
the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
, commencing on 8 January 1853, amalgamating all the previous colonial police forces. During his leadership, the force increased from 700 to 2000 men, despite defections of large numbers who joined the gold rush
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
. He succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. During his leadership the situation on the gold fields of Ballarat deteriorated culminating in the Battle of Eureka Stockade on 4 December 1854. Mitchell resigned the position in 1854 and was succeeded as Chief Commissioner by Captain Charles MacMahon
Charles MacMahon
Charles MacMahon was an Australian politician and for a short time Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. MacMahon was born County Tyrone, Ireland, to a wealthy Irish family and served in the British army. He obtained a veterinary diploma in 1852, and soon left for Australia to join the gold rush...
. The Mitchells then paid a visit to England during 1854-55. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry criticized the handling of the disturbances and resulted in a drastic reduction of police numbers.
He returned to Victoria towards the end of 1855, and in 1856 was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, when responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
was instituted in Victoria, as one of the members for North-western Province.
He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death in 1884. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines
William Haines (Australian politician)
Dr William Clark Haines , Australian colonial politician, was the first Premier of Victoria.Haines was born in London, the son of John Haines, a physician. He was educated at Charterhouse School and Caius College, Cambridge, where he graduated in medicine; he later practiced surgery for several years...
ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator. Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy
John O'Shanassy
Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 2nd Premier of Victoria. O'Shanassy was born near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of a surveyor, and came to the Port Phillip District in 1839...
ministry from 30 December 1861 until the government was defeated on 27 June 1863 over land reform. He did not hold office again.
During the conflict between the Legislative Assembly and the Council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected second President of the Legilative Council on 27 October 1870,
Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell (1811 – 24 November 1884) was an Australia
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. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Mitchell came to 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...
in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service. In 1839 he became assistant colonial secretary. On 21 August 1841, he married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton of Glasgow. On 21 March 1842, he resigned his appointment and in April they sailed for Port Phillip where he acquired Barfold
Barfold, Victoria
Barfold is a locality situated on the Heathcote-Kyneton Road in Victoria, Australia. It has a community hall, Barfold Hall, and an Anglican church, Barfold Union Church....
station near Kyneton
Kyneton, Victoria
Kyneton is a town on the Calder Highway in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire. The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street...
and a property in Mount Macedon
Mount Macedon, Victoria
Mount Macedon is a small town located northwest of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria. It is situated on the side of the mountain of the same name, known as Geboor by the indigenous Wurundjeri people, which rises to above sea level. At the 2006 census, Mount Macedon had a population...
districts becoming a large proprietor.
Mitchell entered the provisional 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 1852. He was appointed by lieutenant-governor Charles La Trobe
Charles La Trobe
Charles Joseph La Trobe was the first lieutenant-governor of the colony of Victoria .-Early life:La Trobe was born in London, the son of Christian Ignatius Latrobe, a family of Huguenot origin...
the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
, commencing on 8 January 1853, amalgamating all the previous colonial police forces. During his leadership, the force increased from 700 to 2000 men, despite defections of large numbers who joined the gold rush
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
. He succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. During his leadership the situation on the gold fields of Ballarat deteriorated culminating in the Battle of Eureka Stockade on 4 December 1854. Mitchell resigned the position in 1854 and was succeeded as Chief Commissioner by Captain Charles MacMahon
Charles MacMahon
Charles MacMahon was an Australian politician and for a short time Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. MacMahon was born County Tyrone, Ireland, to a wealthy Irish family and served in the British army. He obtained a veterinary diploma in 1852, and soon left for Australia to join the gold rush...
. The Mitchells then paid a visit to England during 1854-55. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry criticized the handling of the disturbances and resulted in a drastic reduction of police numbers.
He returned to Victoria towards the end of 1855, and in 1856 was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, when responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
was instituted in Victoria, as one of the members for North-western Province.
He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death in 1884. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines
William Haines (Australian politician)
Dr William Clark Haines , Australian colonial politician, was the first Premier of Victoria.Haines was born in London, the son of John Haines, a physician. He was educated at Charterhouse School and Caius College, Cambridge, where he graduated in medicine; he later practiced surgery for several years...
ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator. Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy
John O'Shanassy
Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 2nd Premier of Victoria. O'Shanassy was born near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of a surveyor, and came to the Port Phillip District in 1839...
ministry from 30 December 1861 until the government was defeated on 27 June 1863 over land reform. He did not hold office again.
During the conflict between the Legislative Assembly and the Council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected second President of the Legilative Council on 27 October 1870,
Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell (1811 – 24 November 1884) was an Australia
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. Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Mitchell came to 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...
in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service. In 1839 he became assistant colonial secretary. On 21 August 1841, he married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton of Glasgow. On 21 March 1842, he resigned his appointment and in April they sailed for Port Phillip where he acquired Barfold
Barfold, Victoria
Barfold is a locality situated on the Heathcote-Kyneton Road in Victoria, Australia. It has a community hall, Barfold Hall, and an Anglican church, Barfold Union Church....
station near Kyneton
Kyneton, Victoria
Kyneton is a town on the Calder Highway in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire. The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street...
and a property in Mount Macedon
Mount Macedon, Victoria
Mount Macedon is a small town located northwest of Melbourne in the Australian state of Victoria. It is situated on the side of the mountain of the same name, known as Geboor by the indigenous Wurundjeri people, which rises to above sea level. At the 2006 census, Mount Macedon had a population...
districts becoming a large proprietor.
Mitchell entered the provisional 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 1852. He was appointed by lieutenant-governor Charles La Trobe
Charles La Trobe
Charles Joseph La Trobe was the first lieutenant-governor of the colony of Victoria .-Early life:La Trobe was born in London, the son of Christian Ignatius Latrobe, a family of Huguenot origin...
the first Chief Commissioner of the newly formed Victoria Police
Victoria Police
Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of Victoria, Australia. , the Victoria Police has over 12,190 sworn members, along with over 400 recruits, reservists and Protective Service Officers, and over 2,900 civilian staff across 393 police stations.-Early history:The Victoria Police...
, commencing on 8 January 1853, amalgamating all the previous colonial police forces. During his leadership, the force increased from 700 to 2000 men, despite defections of large numbers who joined the gold rush
Victorian gold rush
The Victorian gold rush was a period in the history of Victoria, Australia approximately between 1851 and the late 1860s. In 10 years the Australian population nearly tripled.- Overview :During this era Victoria dominated the world's gold output...
. He succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. During his leadership the situation on the gold fields of Ballarat deteriorated culminating in the Battle of Eureka Stockade on 4 December 1854. Mitchell resigned the position in 1854 and was succeeded as Chief Commissioner by Captain Charles MacMahon
Charles MacMahon
Charles MacMahon was an Australian politician and for a short time Chief Commissioner of Victoria Police. MacMahon was born County Tyrone, Ireland, to a wealthy Irish family and served in the British army. He obtained a veterinary diploma in 1852, and soon left for Australia to join the gold rush...
. The Mitchells then paid a visit to England during 1854-55. A subsequent Commission of Inquiry criticized the handling of the disturbances and resulted in a drastic reduction of police numbers.
He returned to Victoria towards the end of 1855, and in 1856 was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council, when responsible government
Responsible government
Responsible government is a conception of a system of government that embodies the principle of parliamentary accountability which is the foundation of the Westminster system of parliamentary democracy...
was instituted in Victoria, as one of the members for North-western Province.
He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death in 1884. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines
William Haines (Australian politician)
Dr William Clark Haines , Australian colonial politician, was the first Premier of Victoria.Haines was born in London, the son of John Haines, a physician. He was educated at Charterhouse School and Caius College, Cambridge, where he graduated in medicine; he later practiced surgery for several years...
ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator. Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy
John O'Shanassy
Sir John O'Shanassy, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 2nd Premier of Victoria. O'Shanassy was born near Thurles in County Tipperary, Ireland, the son of a surveyor, and came to the Port Phillip District in 1839...
ministry from 30 December 1861 until the government was defeated on 27 June 1863 over land reform. He did not hold office again.
During the conflict between the Legislative Assembly and the Council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected second President of the Legilative Council on 27 October 1870,Parliament of Victoria and carried out his duties with ability, decision and courtesy. In the struggle with the assembly he fought for the privileges of the council, and advocated that the qualifications for both members and electors be further reduced.
He was knighted in 1875.
He died at Barfold after a short illness on 24 November 1884, and was survived by 9 children.