Francis Bathurst Suttor
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Bathurst Suttor (30 April 1839 – 4 April 1915) was an Australia
n pastoral
ist, politician
, and sheep and horse breeder.
, the son of pastoralist William Henry Suttor
and his wife, Charlotte Augusta Anne née Francis. Francis Bathurst Suttor was a grandson of George Suttor
. F. B. Suttor was educated at The King's School
, Parramatta
, and from age 19 managed his father's properties near Bathurst. He took up the properties Redbank and Katella near Wellington, New South Wales
in 1863, and later Bradwardine at Bathurst. In July 1863 Suttor married Emily Jane (1841–1911), daughter of T. H. Hawkins of Walmer, Bathurst.
Suttor made a study of sheep-breeding; in 1868 hebought 100 merino
ewes from C. C. Cox of Brombee and the use of the sire Brombee Pet for two months; Suttor maintained the high standards of Mudgee sheep. With ewes bought from James Alexander Gibson
Suttor founded a stud of Tasmanian merinos at Bradwardine that were successful in shows. From a Cleveland Bay
sire, Suttor also bred a superior type of horse for coaches which were extensively used in Australia at the time.
Suttor was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
as a Free trader
for Bathurst in bitter campaign against Edmund Webb. Suttor held the seat until 1900. Suttor was minister for justice and public instruction in the second Henry Parkes
ministry from 22 March 1877 to 16 August 1877, and held the same position in the third Parkes ministry from December 1878 to April 1880; he was minister of justice from May to August 1880, then became Postmaster-General until November 1881, when he became minister of public instruction until January 1883. From February 1886 to January 1887 Suttor was Postmaster-General in the Patrick Jennings
ministry. Suttor was minister of public instruction in the second George Dibbs
ministry from January to March 1889, and held the same post in Dibbs' third ministry from October 1891 to August 1894. In 1894 Suttor represented New South Wales
at the Ottawa Colonial Conference. Suttor lost his seat in the February 1889 general elections after intervention by Parkes and Webb;, but was then nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council
by Dibbs from 27 February 1889 where he represented the William Lyne
and John See
ministries. Suttor was vice-president of the executive council from 12 June 1900 until 23 May 1903 when he was appointed president of the Legislative Council, and held this position until his death. On 29 April 1914 the members of the Legislative Council gave a banquet in honour of Suttor's 75th birthday. In replying to the toast of his health Suttor mentioned that his father, uncle, brother and himself had, between them, given over 80 years of service in parliament. Suttor also said that there were then 138 living descendants of his father and mother.
and the Art Gallery of New South Wales
and was a member of the senate of the University of Sydney
. Suttor was always interested in the primary producer and was president of the New South Wales Sheepbreeders' Association 1903-15, and president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
. He was an excellent chairman and president of the Legislative Council. Suttor also served as the president of the Australian Club
. Suttor died on 4 April 1915 at his Darling Point
residence, survived by three sons and five daughters. After a state funeral, Suttor was buried in the Anglican section of South Head
cemetery. Suttor was knighted in 1903. A bust of Suttor by Nelson Illingworth
is owned by the Legislative Council, Sydney.
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 pastoral
Pastoral
The adjective pastoral refers to the lifestyle of pastoralists, such as shepherds herding livestock around open areas of land according to seasons and the changing availability of water and pasturage. It also refers to a genre in literature, art or music that depicts such shepherd life in an...
ist, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and sheep and horse breeder.
Early life
Suttor was born in Bathurst, New South WalesBathurst, New South Wales
-CBD and suburbs:Bathurst's CBD is located on William, George, Howick, Russell, and Durham Streets. The CBD is approximately 25 hectares and surrounds two city blocks. Within this block layout is banking, government services, shopping centres, retail shops, a park* and monuments...
, the son of pastoralist William Henry Suttor
William Henry Suttor
William Henry Suttor was an Australian pastoralist and politician. Suttor was born in Baulkham Hills, New South Wales, the third son of George Suttor and his wife Sarah Maria, née Dobinson....
and his wife, Charlotte Augusta Anne née Francis. Francis Bathurst Suttor was a grandson of George Suttor
George Suttor
George Suttor was an Anglo-Scottish farmer and pioneer settler of Australia, who is notable as the founder of a significant Australian family, and also as a supporter of Captain Bligh following the 1808 Rebellion at Sydney, New South Wales.-Early life:Suttor was born in Chelsea, London, England,...
. F. B. Suttor was educated at The King's School
The King's School, Sydney
The King's School is an independent Anglican, day and boarding school for boys in North Parramatta in the western suburbs of Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1831, it is Australia's oldest school and forms one of the nine "Great Public Schools" of New South Wales. Situated within a site, Gowan Brae,...
, Parramatta
Parramatta, New South Wales
Parramatta is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located in Greater Western Sydney west of the Sydney central business district on the banks of the Parramatta River. Parramatta is the administrative seat of the Local Government Area of the City of Parramatta...
, and from age 19 managed his father's properties near Bathurst. He took up the properties Redbank and Katella near Wellington, New South Wales
Wellington, New South Wales
Wellington is a town in inland New South Wales, Australia located at the junction of the Macquarie and Bell Rivers. The town is the administrative centre of the Wellington Shire Local Government Area. The town is 362 kilometres from Sydney on the Great Western Highway and Mitchell Highway...
in 1863, and later Bradwardine at Bathurst. In July 1863 Suttor married Emily Jane (1841–1911), daughter of T. H. Hawkins of Walmer, Bathurst.
Suttor made a study of sheep-breeding; in 1868 hebought 100 merino
Merino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
ewes from C. C. Cox of Brombee and the use of the sire Brombee Pet for two months; Suttor maintained the high standards of Mudgee sheep. With ewes bought from James Alexander Gibson
James Alexander Gibson
James Alexander Gibson was a Canadian academic, federal bureaucrat and private secretary to prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King....
Suttor founded a stud of Tasmanian merinos at Bradwardine that were successful in shows. From a Cleveland Bay
Cleveland Bay
The Cleveland Bay is a breed of horse that originated in England during the 17th century, named after its colouring and the Cleveland district of Yorkshire. It is a well-muscled horse, with legs that are strong but short in relation to the body. The horses are always bay in colour, although a...
sire, Suttor also bred a superior type of horse for coaches which were extensively used in Australia at the time.
Political career
On 2 January 1875Suttor was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
as a Free trader
Free Trader
Free Trader was a political label used by several candidates in the 1906 general election and January 1910 general election. Its candidates were in university constituencies, led by John Eldon Gorst, who had been previously elected as a Conservative Party but had split from the party in 1902.The...
for Bathurst in bitter campaign against Edmund Webb. Suttor held the seat until 1900. Suttor was minister for justice and public instruction in the second Henry Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
ministry from 22 March 1877 to 16 August 1877, and held the same position in the third Parkes ministry from December 1878 to April 1880; he was minister of justice from May to August 1880, then became Postmaster-General until November 1881, when he became minister of public instruction until January 1883. From February 1886 to January 1887 Suttor was Postmaster-General in the Patrick Jennings
Patrick Jennings (Australian politician)
Sir Patrick Alfred Jennings KCMG was an Irish-Australian politician and Premier of New South Wales.-Early life:...
ministry. Suttor was minister of public instruction in the second George Dibbs
George Dibbs
Sir George Richard Dibbs KCMG was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales on three occasions.-Early years:Dibbs was born in Sydney, son of Captain John Dibbs, who disappeared in the same year...
ministry from January to March 1889, and held the same post in Dibbs' third ministry from October 1891 to August 1894. In 1894 Suttor represented New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
at the Ottawa Colonial Conference. Suttor lost his seat in the February 1889 general elections after intervention by Parkes and Webb;, but was then nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
by Dibbs from 27 February 1889 where he represented the William Lyne
William Lyne
Sir William John Lyne KCMG , Australian politician, was Premier of New South Wales and a member of the first federal ministry.-Early life:...
and John See
John See
Sir John See, KCMG was a member of the New South Wales Legislature from 26 November 1880 to 15 June 1901, and was then Premier of New South Wales from 1901 to 1904....
ministries. Suttor was vice-president of the executive council from 12 June 1900 until 23 May 1903 when he was appointed president of the Legislative Council, and held this position until his death. On 29 April 1914 the members of the Legislative Council gave a banquet in honour of Suttor's 75th birthday. In replying to the toast of his health Suttor mentioned that his father, uncle, brother and himself had, between them, given over 80 years of service in parliament. Suttor also said that there were then 138 living descendants of his father and mother.
Other Interests
Suttor was also a trustee of Australian MuseumAustralian Museum
The Australian Museum is the oldest museum in Australia, with an international reputation in the fields of natural history and anthropology. It features collections of vertebrate and invertebrate zoology, as well as mineralogy, palaeontology, and anthropology...
and the Art Gallery of New South Wales
Art Gallery of New South Wales
The Art Gallery of New South Wales , located in The Domain in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, was established in 1897 and is the most important public gallery in Sydney and the fourth largest in Australia...
and was a member of the senate of the University of Sydney
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney is a public university located in Sydney, New South Wales. The main campus spreads across the suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington on the southwestern outskirts of the Sydney CBD. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and Oceania...
. Suttor was always interested in the primary producer and was president of the New South Wales Sheepbreeders' Association 1903-15, and president of the Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales
The Royal Agricultural Society of New South Wales is an Agricultural society based in New South Wales, Australia. They run many of the agricultural shows around New South Wales including the Sydney Royal Easter Show....
. He was an excellent chairman and president of the Legislative Council. Suttor also served as the president of the Australian Club
Australian Club
The Australian Club is a private club founded in 1838 and located in Sydney at 165 Macquarie Street. Its membership is men-only and it's the oldest gentlemen's club in the southern hemisphere...
. Suttor died on 4 April 1915 at his Darling Point
Darling Point, New South Wales
Darling Point is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Darling Point is located 4 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of Woollahra Council....
residence, survived by three sons and five daughters. After a state funeral, Suttor was buried in the Anglican section of South Head
Sydney Heads
Sydney Heads , is the entrance to Port Jackson in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.North Head and Quarantine Head are to the north, South Head and Dunbar Head are to the south. Middle Head, Georges Head and Chowder Head are to the west and within the bay...
cemetery. Suttor was knighted in 1903. A bust of Suttor by Nelson Illingworth
Nelson Illingworth
Nelson William Illingworth was an English sculptor and colourful bohemian.Illingworth was born in Portsmouth, England, son of Thomas Illingworth, plasterer, and his wife Sarah, née Harvey. He studied at the Lambeth art school and worked as a modeller at the Royal Doulton potteries...
is owned by the Legislative Council, Sydney.