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Sir Arthur Blyth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 9thPremier of South Australia | |
| In office 4 August 1864 – 22 March 1865 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Dominick Daly |
| Preceded by | Henry Ayers |
| Succeeded by | Francis Dutton |
| In office 10 November 1871 – 22 January 1872 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir James Fergusson |
| Preceded by | John Hart |
| Succeeded by | Sir Henry Ayers |
| In office 22 July 1873 – 3 June 1875 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Anthony Musgrave |
| Preceded by | Sir Henry Ayers |
| Succeeded by | James Boucaut |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1823-03-19)19 March 1823 |
| Died | 7 December 1891(1891-12-07) (aged 68) |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Jessie Ann Forrest (m. 1850–1891; his death) |
| Occupation | Politician |
Sir Arthur BlythKCMG, CB (19 March 1823 – 7 December 1891)[1] wasPremier of South Australia three times; 1864–65, 1871–72 and 1873–75.
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The son of William Blyth and his wife, Sarah Wilkins, he was born atBirmingham, England on 21 March 1823. His formative years were spent in Birmingham, and he was educated atKing Edward's School, Birmingham, and arrived with his parents in South Australia in 1839 on the "Ariadne" at the age of 16. His father, who was appointed a Justice of the Peace and became a Councillor of the City Corporation in 1840, and afterwards one of the City Commissioners,[2] established anironmongery business inHindley Street, Adelaide, which Blyth entered with his brother Neville. He interested himself in municipal work and was a member of the central road board. In 1855 he was elected forYatala in the oldlegislative council and assisted in framing the new constitution.
Early in 1857 he was elected as one of the representatives ofGumeracha in the first house of assembly, and in August became commissioner of public works in theJohn Baker ministry which, however, was defeated on 1 September. On 12 June 1858 he was given the same position in theHanson ministry, which remained in power until May 1860. In October 1861 he becameTreasurer of South Australia in theWaterhouse ministry which, however, was reconstructed nine days later, when Blyth dropped out. He came back to the ministry, however, as Treasurer in February 1862, and was selected as one of the three representatives of South Australia at the intercolonial conference held in Melbourne in March and April 1863.[3]
He was a member of theAgricultural and Horticultural Society and its president for the year 1867–68.
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On 4 August 1864, Blyth, taking the positions ofpremier and commissioner of crown lands and immigration, formed his first ministry, but it was difficult to do useful work, much time being wasted in no-confidence motions. Blyth resigned on 22 March 1865, was Treasurer in the third ministry formed byHenry Ayers but was out of office again in little more than a month.
In March 1866 he becameChief Secretary inJames Boucaut's first ministry from March 1866 to May 1867. He was Treasurer again in the firstJohn Hart ministry in September 1868, but this ministry was defeated three weeks later. He took the position of commissioner of crown lands and immigration in the second Hart ministry, which lasted from 30 May 1870 to 10 November 1871, when Blyth formed his second ministry, but resigned only ten weeks later.
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On 22 July 1873 he again became premier and this time took the portfolio ofChief Secretary of South Australia. This ministry was a comparatively stable one and lasted until June 1875. It succeeded in doing something forimmigration, and after a stern fight passed a free, secular, and compulsory education bill through the assembly. This was defeated in the council. It succeeded, however, in passing an act incorporating theUniversity of Adelaide. From 10 February 1875 to 21 February 1877 he representedNorth Adelaide.
On 25 March 1876 Blyth became Treasurer in the third Boucaut ministry which resigned less than three months later. In February 1877 he was appointed agent-general for South Australia in London and held the position capably for many years. He was a councillor of theOxford Military College inCowley andOxfordOxfordshire from 1876 to 1896. He was a representative of South Australia at the 1887 colonial conference.
Blyth died inBournemouth, England on 7 December 1891. His widow died two weeks later, on 21 December.[4]
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Arthur's younger brother,Neville Blyth, had a significant political career, being first elected to the House of Assembly for the seat ofEast Torrens in 1860.
Arthur Blyth married Jessie Ann Forrest (1827–21 December 1891), a daughter of Edward Forrest ofBirmingham, on 5 March 1850; she died two weeks after her husband.
TheHundred of Blyth (SA) in the Mid North of South Australia, and hence the later township ofBlyth, was named for him in 1860 byGovernor MacDonnell.
TheBlyth River in theNorthern Territory was named after him byFrancis Cadell in 1867.[6] TheHundred of Blyth (NT) was also named for him in 1871.
He was knightedKCMG in 1877 and appointedCB in 1886.[7]
TheHundred of Jessie and possibly the ceased government town ofJessie were named for his wife.[8][9]
[N]otable persons who have died here are ... Sir Arthur Blyth, premier of South Australia, in 1891.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Commissioner of Public Works 21 Aug – 1 Sep1857 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commissioner of Public Works 12 Jun 1858 – 9 May 1860 | Succeeded by |
| Treasurer of South Australia 8 Oct – 17 Oct1861 | Succeeded by | |
| Treasurer of South Australia 19 Feb 1862 – 4 Jul 1863 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Premier of South Australia 4 Aug 1864 – 22 Mar 1865 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration 4 Aug 1864 – 22 Mar 1865 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Treasurer of South Australia 20 Sep – 23 Oct 1865 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Chief Secretary of South Australia 28 Mar 1866 – 3 May 1867 | Succeeded by |
| Premier of South Australia 10 Nov 1871 – 22 Jan 1872 | ||
| Treasurer of South Australia 10 Nov 1871 – 22 Jan 1872 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration 10 Nov 1871 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Premier of South Australia 22 Jul 1873 – 3 Jun 1875 | Succeeded by |
| Chief Secretary of South Australia 22 Jul 1873 – 3 Jun 1875 | Succeeded by | |
| Preceded by | Treasurer of South Australia 26 Mar 1876 | Succeeded by |
| Parliament of South Australia | ||
| Preceded by New district | Member forGumeracha 1857–1868 Served alongside:Alexander Hay,Alexander Murray | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member forGumeracha 1870–1875 Served alongside:Ebenezer Ward | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by New district | Member forNorth Adelaide 1875–1877 | Succeeded by |
| Diplomatic posts | ||
| Preceded by | Agent-General for South Australia 1877–1891 | Succeeded by |
