John Michael Higgins (metallurgist)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Michael Higgins GCMG
(9 December 1862 – 6 October 1937) was an Australia
n businessman and metallurgist
, and was founder the Australian Metal Exchange.
, the son of Enedor Stephens Higgins and his wife Elizabeth Jane, née Stephens, both Cornish
. Higgins was educated at Rae's School, Sandhurst (now Bendigo
) and at Bendigo High School. Afterwards he studied metallurgy and chemistry at the Bendigo School of Mines
. Higgins was indentured to Mr. Garside, a chemist at Bendigo, and afterwards had a pharmacy
business of his own, which he sold to become an analyst in a New South Wales
mine. He later became metallurgical chemist to the Australian Smelting Company at Dry Creek, South Australia
, and when these works closed down, practised as a consulting metallurgist. Higgins also acquired interests in the wool
industry and had land in Queensland
and New South Wales. This led to his making a study of wool and he became an expert in its technology.
in 1914, Higgins placed his knowledge at the disposal of the Federal Government, and was appointed honorary metallurgical adviser. Higgins represented the Federal Government on the Zinc Producers' Association and on the Copper Producers' Association, and also founded the Australian Metal Exchange. After the Imperial government bought the Australian wool clip in 1916, Higgins became Chairman and Governing Director of the Central Wool Committee. In 1918 he was Chairman of directors of the British Australian Wool Realization Association, afterwards known as BAWRA, and was most successful in the management of the sale of the wool carried over at the end of the war. Higgins would not accept any salary or fee for his work as adviser to the government, but had a large salary as chairman of BAWRA, half of which was distributed every year to charitable and educational institutions. He held this position until 1926, when the association went into liquidation and he became trustee for a further six years. Higgins died at Melbourne
on 6 October 1937 and was buried in Box Hill Cemetery
.
Sir John Higgins was a wealthy philanthropist and assisted the government and the pastoral community during and after World War I. He was kind and charitable, and made many bequests and gifts to various organisations. Sir John and Lady Higgins on various occasions gave sums amounting to about £10,000 to the University of Melbourne
, and further considerable sums under his will. Many hospitals and other charitable institutions would also benefit from their generosity. The University of Melbourne promotes agriculture and veterinary science through the J. M. Higgins Research Foundation and the annual J. M. Higgins exhibition; the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology's chemistry laboratory is named after Sir John and Lady Higgins.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(9 December 1862 – 6 October 1937) 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 businessman and metallurgist
Metallurgy
Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. It is also the technology of metals: the way in which science is applied to their practical use...
, and was founder the Australian Metal Exchange.
Early life
Higgins was born at Eureka Reef, Castlemaine, VictoriaCastlemaine, Victoria
Castlemaine is a city in Victoria, Australia, in the Goldfields region of Victoria about 120 kilometres northwest by road from Melbourne, and about 40 kilometres from the major provincial centre of Bendigo. It is the administrative and economic centre of the Shire of Mount Alexander. The...
, the son of Enedor Stephens Higgins and his wife Elizabeth Jane, née Stephens, both Cornish
Cornish Australian
Cornish Australians are citizens of Australia whose ancestry originates in Cornwall, United Kingdom, one of the six Celtic Nations. They form part of the worldwide Cornish diaspora which also includes large numbers of people in the US, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, Mexico and many Latin...
. Higgins was educated at Rae's School, Sandhurst (now Bendigo
Bendigo, Victoria
Bendigo is a major regional city in the state of Victoria, Australia, located very close to the geographical centre of the state and approximately north west of the state capital Melbourne. It is the second largest inland city and fourth most populous city in the state. The estimated urban...
) and at Bendigo High School. Afterwards he studied metallurgy and chemistry at the Bendigo School of Mines
Bendigo School of Mines
Bendigo School of Mines is located in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia and was established in 1873.-Notable past students:* John Scaddan, c.1889-1895, later Premier of Western Australia* Edward Heitmann c.1896, later Australian M.P....
. Higgins was indentured to Mr. Garside, a chemist at Bendigo, and afterwards had a pharmacy
Pharmacy
Pharmacy is the health profession that links the health sciences with the chemical sciences and it is charged with ensuring the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical drugs...
business of his own, which he sold to become an analyst in a 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...
mine. He later became metallurgical chemist to the Australian Smelting Company at Dry Creek, South Australia
Dry Creek, South Australia
Dry Creek is a mostly industrial suburb located north of Adelaide, containing significant wetlands and a substantial area devoted to salt crystallization pans, managed by Cheltenham Salt Limited....
, and when these works closed down, practised as a consulting metallurgist. Higgins also acquired interests in the wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
industry and had land in Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and New South Wales. This led to his making a study of wool and he became an expert in its technology.
Career
With the outbreak of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
in 1914, Higgins placed his knowledge at the disposal of the Federal Government, and was appointed honorary metallurgical adviser. Higgins represented the Federal Government on the Zinc Producers' Association and on the Copper Producers' Association, and also founded the Australian Metal Exchange. After the Imperial government bought the Australian wool clip in 1916, Higgins became Chairman and Governing Director of the Central Wool Committee. In 1918 he was Chairman of directors of the British Australian Wool Realization Association, afterwards known as BAWRA, and was most successful in the management of the sale of the wool carried over at the end of the war. Higgins would not accept any salary or fee for his work as adviser to the government, but had a large salary as chairman of BAWRA, half of which was distributed every year to charitable and educational institutions. He held this position until 1926, when the association went into liquidation and he became trustee for a further six years. Higgins died at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 6 October 1937 and was buried in Box Hill Cemetery
Box Hill Cemetery
Box Hill Cemetery is a cemetery located in Box Hill, Victoria in Australia. It is known as the resting place of notable figures from Melbourne and its heritage-registered Columbarium and Myer Memorial...
.
Legacy
Sir John Higgins was married on 14 November 1889 to Frances Anna Macgraith/Magraith (1852-1932), the youngest daughter of Captain Robert Lovell Magraith (Maegraith; the second son of the Earl of Antrim) and Anna Balfour, of North Adelaide. Sir John Higgins and Frances Anna Higgins had no children. They lived at "Holyrood", Riverdale Rd, East Camberwell and later "Pentor", Toorak, Melbourne. Higgins was created KCMG in 1918 and GCMG in 1934.Sir John Higgins was a wealthy philanthropist and assisted the government and the pastoral community during and after World War I. He was kind and charitable, and made many bequests and gifts to various organisations. Sir John and Lady Higgins on various occasions gave sums amounting to about £10,000 to the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
, and further considerable sums under his will. Many hospitals and other charitable institutions would also benefit from their generosity. The University of Melbourne promotes agriculture and veterinary science through the J. M. Higgins Research Foundation and the annual J. M. Higgins exhibition; the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology's chemistry laboratory is named after Sir John and Lady Higgins.