William Giblin
Encyclopedia
William Robert Giblin was Premier of Tasmania (Australia
) from 5 March 1878 until 20 December 1878 and from 1879 until 1884.
, Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania
), son of William Giblin, clerk of the registrar of deeds, and his wife Marion, née Falkiner. He was educated first at a school kept by his uncle Robert Giblin and afterwards at Hobart High School
. Leaving school at 13 Giblin was articled to John Roberts, solicitor. Giblin was a great reader with a retentive memory, in 1862 won a prize for the best poem on the conversion of St Paul, and about this time delivered some lectures on literary subjects. In 1864 he was admitted as a barrister
and solicitor
, entered into partnership with John Dobson and subsequently with one of his sons Henry Dobson
. Also in 1864 Giblin was one of the founders of the Hobart Working Men's Club, was elected its president, and was re-elected on several occasions subsequently. Giblin began to interest himself in public life and especially in the proposed railway from Hobart to Launceston
.
in the Tasmanian House of Assembly
, and in February 1870 became attorney-general in the James Milne Wilson
ministry. Wilson resigned in November 1872 and was succeeded by Frederick Innes
. In August 1873 Giblin carried a motion of want of confidence but did not desire the premiership, and Alfred Kennerley
formed a cabinet with Giblin as his attorney-general. This ministry lasted nearly three years and Giblin was able to bring in some useful legal legislation. In June 1877 Giblin lost his seat at the general election, but he was soon afterwards elected for Wellington and joined the cabinet of Sir Philip Fysh
as attorney-general, exchanging that position for the treasurership a few days later. When Fysh left for London
in March 1878 Giblin succeeded him as premier and held office until 20 December 1878. The William Crowther
government which followed could do little in the conditions of the period, and when it resigned in October 1879 Giblin realized that the only way to get useful work done would be to form a coalition ministry. This he succeeded in doing and he became premier and colonial treasurer on 30 October 1879. His government lasted nearly five years and during that period the finances of the colony were put in order and railways and roads were built. Important work was done although the conservative elements in the Tasmanian Legislative Council
succeeded in hampering the government to some extent. In December 1881 Giblin exchanged the position of treasurer for that of attorney-general with John S. Dodds
. He represented Tasmania at the intercolonial tariff conference at Sydney in 1881 and at the Sydney federal conference
in 1883, and took an important part in the debates.
, and during the absence of the chief justice administered the government in October-November 1886. Giblin died of heart disease in Hobart on 17 January 1887, aged 46. He married in 1865 Emily Jean Perkins who survived him with four sons and three daughters, his second son was the statistician Lyndhurst Giblin
.
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...
) from 5 March 1878 until 20 December 1878 and from 1879 until 1884.
Early life
Giblin was born at HobartHobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, 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...
), son of William Giblin, clerk of the registrar of deeds, and his wife Marion, née Falkiner. He was educated first at a school kept by his uncle Robert Giblin and afterwards at Hobart High School
Hobart College (Tasmania)
Hobart College was, until January 2009, a senior secondary college located at Mount Nelson, in Hobart, Tasmania.In January 2009 it became the Hobart Campus of the Tasmanian Polytechnic and the Tasmanian Academy, formed as part of the Tasmania Tomorrow reforms.The Hobart Campus now offers courses...
. Leaving school at 13 Giblin was articled to John Roberts, solicitor. Giblin was a great reader with a retentive memory, in 1862 won a prize for the best poem on the conversion of St Paul, and about this time delivered some lectures on literary subjects. In 1864 he was admitted as a barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
and solicitor
Solicitor
Solicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
, entered into partnership with John Dobson and subsequently with one of his sons Henry Dobson
Henry Dobson
Henry Dobson , was an Australian politician, who served as a member of the Tasmanian House of Assembly and later of the Australian Senate...
. Also in 1864 Giblin was one of the founders of the Hobart Working Men's Club, was elected its president, and was re-elected on several occasions subsequently. Giblin began to interest himself in public life and especially in the proposed railway from Hobart to Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
.
Political career
In 1869 Giblin was elected without opposition as member for Hobart TownElectoral district of Hobart Town
The Electoral district of Hobart Town was a multi-member electoral district of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. It was based in Tasmania's capital city, Hobart, and its suburbs....
in the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian 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...
, and in February 1870 became attorney-general in the James Milne Wilson
James Milne Wilson
Sir James Milne Wilson, KCMG served as Premier of Tasmania from 1869 to 1872.Wilson was born in 1812 in Banff, Scotland; the third son of John Wilson, a shipowner. Educated at Banff and Edinburgh, he emigrated to Tasmania in 1829, studied practical engineering and afterwards became a ship's officer...
ministry. Wilson resigned in November 1872 and was succeeded by Frederick Innes
Frederick Innes
Frederick Maitland Innes was Premier of Tasmania from 4 November 1872 to 4 August 1873.The son of Francis Innes, army officer, and his wife Prudence, née Edgerleyan, Innes was born in Edinburgh, Scotland. Innes was educated at Heriot's, Edinburgh, and Kelso Grammar School in Kelso...
. In August 1873 Giblin carried a motion of want of confidence but did not desire the premiership, and Alfred Kennerley
Alfred Kennerley
Alfred Kennerley was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 4 August 1873 until 20 July 1876.Kennerley was born in Islington. He was a man of means who came from England to Australia when young and settled in New South Wales. He removed to Hobart, became an alderman about 1860, and...
formed a cabinet with Giblin as his attorney-general. This ministry lasted nearly three years and Giblin was able to bring in some useful legal legislation. In June 1877 Giblin lost his seat at the general election, but he was soon afterwards elected for Wellington and joined the cabinet of Sir Philip Fysh
Philip Fysh
Sir Philip Oakley Fysh, KCMG was an Australian politician, Premier of Tasmania and a member of the first federal ministry....
as attorney-general, exchanging that position for the treasurership a few days later. When Fysh left for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in March 1878 Giblin succeeded him as premier and held office until 20 December 1878. 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:...
government which followed could do little in the conditions of the period, and when it resigned in October 1879 Giblin realized that the only way to get useful work done would be to form a coalition ministry. This he succeeded in doing and he became premier and colonial treasurer on 30 October 1879. His government lasted nearly five years and during that period the finances of the colony were put in order and railways and roads were built. Important work was done although the conservative elements in the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
succeeded in hampering the government to some extent. In December 1881 Giblin exchanged the position of treasurer for that of attorney-general with John S. Dodds
John Stokell Dodds
Sir John Stokell Dodds KCMG, was an Australian politician and Chief Justice of Tasmania.-Early life:Dodds was born in Durham, England, the son of William Dodds and his wife Annie, née Shute. The family moved to Hobart, Tasmania, arriving in 1853. His father died soon afterwards and Dodds was...
. He represented Tasmania at the intercolonial tariff conference at Sydney in 1881 and at the Sydney federal conference
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
in 1883, and took an important part in the debates.
Late life
In August 1884, Giblin resigned from the cabinet on account of failing health; on 7 February 1885 he accepted the position of puisne judge of the Supreme Court of TasmaniaSupreme Court of Tasmania
The Supreme Court of Tasmania is the highest State court in the Australian State of Tasmania. In the Australian court hierarchy, the Supreme Court of Tasmania is in the middle level, and is able to both receive appeals from lower courts, and able to be appealed from.The ordinary sittings of the...
, and during the absence of the chief justice administered the government in October-November 1886. Giblin died of heart disease in Hobart on 17 January 1887, aged 46. He married in 1865 Emily Jean Perkins who survived him with four sons and three daughters, his second son was the statistician Lyndhurst Giblin
Lyndhurst Giblin
Professor Lyndhurst Falkiner Giblin DSO MC was an Australian statistician and economist. He led a colourful life; he was an unsuccessful gold prospector, played rugby union for England, and fought in the First World War....
.