William Henry Bundey
Encyclopedia
Sir William Henry Bundey (30 January 1838 – 6 December 1909) was an Australia
n politician and judge.
, Hampshire
, England
, the second son of James Bundey and his wife Harriett née Lockyer. The family emigrated to South Australia
in 1848 after losing money in England. William's father died about a few weeks after his arrival, and the boy, though only 10 years of age, went to work in a solicitor's office. In 1856 he was appointed clerk of the City of Onkaparinga
local court, but gave this position up about six years later to became articled to a solicitor. Bundey was practically self-educated but he was a good law student, and he was admitted to the bar in 1865. He became a most effective advocate, especially in criminal cases; he declined to defend prisoners unless he believed in their innocence. In 1878 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel
.
for Onkaparinga, and from July 1874 to March 1875 was minister for justice and education in the third Arthur Blyth
ministry. He was responsible for the bill to establish the University of Adelaide
. He did not seek re-election in 1875 because of his health, but entered parliament again in 1878 and was attorney-general in the William Morgan
ministry from September 1878 to March 1881. A trip through Europe and the east improved his health. Bundey returned to Adelaide
at the end of April 1882. In 1884 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia
, a position he held for 19 years. He was appointed president of the board of conciliation in 1894 but resigned some 15 months later.
, who survived him with a daughter, Ellen Milne Bundey. Miss Bundey wrote under the name of "Lyell Dunne" and published several volumes of verse.
As a young man Bundey was a captain in the Volunteer Military Movement and later became an expert yachtsman; he was also a cricket
enthusiast. He was vice-commodore of the South Australian Yacht Squadron in 1870-74 and commodore in 1874-84. He published his Reminiscences of 25 Years' Yachting in Australia in 1888. As a politician he was responsible for the supreme court act, the district courts act, and insolvency and public trustee acts. As a judge he was courteous and particularly anxious to preserve the rights of the subject, and concerned that prisoners who were not defended should receive justice. He published several pamphlets including Land Reform, Education, Trades Unions (1889), Some Thoughts on the Administration of the Criminal Law (1891), Conviction of Innocent Men (1900).
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 and judge.
Early life
Bundey was born in ExburyExbury
Exbury is a village in Hampshire, England. It lies just in the New Forest, near the Beaulieu River and about a mile from the Solent coast. It is best known as the location of Exbury House, built by the Rothschild family, and the famous Exbury Gardens...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
, 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...
, the second son of James Bundey and his wife Harriett née Lockyer. The family emigrated to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1848 after losing money in England. William's father died about a few weeks after his arrival, and the boy, though only 10 years of age, went to work in a solicitor's office. In 1856 he was appointed clerk of the City of Onkaparinga
City of Onkaparinga
The City of Onkaparinga is a local government area located on the southern fringe of Adelaide, South Australia. It is named after the Onkaparinga River, whose name comes from Ngangkiparinga, a Kaurna word meaning "The Women's River"...
local court, but gave this position up about six years later to became articled to a solicitor. Bundey was practically self-educated but he was a good law student, and he was admitted to the bar in 1865. He became a most effective advocate, especially in criminal cases; he declined to defend prisoners unless he believed in their innocence. In 1878 he was appointed a Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
.
Political career
In 1871 Bundey was elected to the South Australian House of AssemblySouth Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
for Onkaparinga, and from July 1874 to March 1875 was minister for justice and education in the third Arthur Blyth
Arthur Blyth
Sir Arthur Blyth KCMG was premier of South Australia three times; 1864–1865, 1871–1872 and 1873-1875....
ministry. He was responsible for the bill to establish the University of Adelaide
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is a public university located in Adelaide, South Australia. Established in 1874, it is the third oldest university in Australia...
. He did not seek re-election in 1875 because of his health, but entered parliament again in 1878 and was attorney-general in the William Morgan
William Morgan (Australian politician)
Sir William Morgan KCMG was the Premier of South Australia between 1878 and 1881.-Early life:William Morgan was born in Bedfordshire, England, the son of George Morgan, a farmer, and his wife Sarah, née Horne. He emigrated to South Australia, arriving in Port Adelaide on 13 February 1849 in the...
ministry from September 1878 to March 1881. A trip through Europe and the east improved his health. Bundey returned to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
at the end of April 1882. In 1884 he was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia
Supreme Court of South Australia
The Supreme Court of South Australia is the superior court for the Australian State of South Australia. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. The Supreme Court is the highest South Australian court in the Australian court...
, a position he held for 19 years. He was appointed president of the board of conciliation in 1894 but resigned some 15 months later.
Late life and legacy
Bundey retired on a pension in 1903, was knighted in 1904, and died on 6 December 1909 at his home in Mount Lofty, South Australia. In 1865 he married Ellen Wardlaw, daughter of Sir William MilneWilliam Milne (politician)
Sir William Milne was an Australian entrepreneur and politician, serving as the member for Onkaparinga in the South Australian House of Assembly from 1857-1868 and President of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1873 to 1881.Born in Wester-Common, near Glasgow, Milne was educated in...
, who survived him with a daughter, Ellen Milne Bundey. Miss Bundey wrote under the name of "Lyell Dunne" and published several volumes of verse.
As a young man Bundey was a captain in the Volunteer Military Movement and later became an expert yachtsman; he was also a cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
enthusiast. He was vice-commodore of the South Australian Yacht Squadron in 1870-74 and commodore in 1874-84. He published his Reminiscences of 25 Years' Yachting in Australia in 1888. As a politician he was responsible for the supreme court act, the district courts act, and insolvency and public trustee acts. As a judge he was courteous and particularly anxious to preserve the rights of the subject, and concerned that prisoners who were not defended should receive justice. He published several pamphlets including Land Reform, Education, Trades Unions (1889), Some Thoughts on the Administration of the Criminal Law (1891), Conviction of Innocent Men (1900).