Sir Bryan O'Loghlen Bt | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| 13thPremier of Victoria | |
| In office 9 July 1881 – 8 March 1883 | |
| Preceded by | Graham Berry |
| Succeeded by | James Service |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1828-06-27)27 June 1828 Dublin, Ireland |
| Died | 31 October 1905(1905-10-31) (aged 77) St Kilda, Victoria, Australia |
| Resting place | St Kilda Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Ella |
Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, 3rd Baronet (pronounced and sometimes speltBrian O'Lochlen; 27 June 1828 – 31 October 1905)[1] was an Irish-born Australian colonial politician who was the 13thPremier of Victoria.
O'Loghlen was born inCounty Clare, Ireland on 27 June 1828. He was a younger son of the distinguished Irish judgeSir Michael O'Loghlen, 1st Baronet, and his wife Bidelia Kelly, and was educated atTrinity College, Dublin and was admitted to theIrish Bar in 1856.[2]
In 1862 he emigrated toVictoria and was appointed a Crown Prosecutor in 1863. He succeeded to his father'sbaronetcy in 1877 on the death of his brother,Colman, and in the same year he was elected,in absentia, to theBritish House of Commons forCounty Clare, replacing his brother, but did not take his seat.
O'Loghlen narrowly lost the election for the seat ofNorth Melbourne in May 1877.[2] In February 1878 O'Loghlen, a recognised leader of the Irish Catholic community in Victoria, was elected to theVictorian Legislative Assembly forWest Melbourne in a by-election.[1] In 1880 he transferred toWest Bourke, which he held until February 1883.[1]
O'Loghlen was a radical liberal in Victorian politics: he favoured breaking up the estates of the landowning class (who were mainly English and Scottish Protestants) to provide land for small farmers, and ending the power of the landowner-dominatedVictorian Legislative Council.
He also wanted government aid for Roman Catholic schools, but not if this meant government supervision of what they taught. He served asAttorney-General in the reforming ministry ofGraham Berry from 27 March 1878[3] to 1880, and was a loyal supporter of Berry in his struggles with the Council and the conservatives it represented. His appointment as Attorney-General constituted anoffice of profit fromthe Crown;[4] in Victoria he won the consequentministerial by-election,[5] whereas in the UK a select committee deemed he had vacated his Westminster seat,[6] triggeringa by-election.
When Berry's third government resigned in July 1881, O'Loghlen succeeded him as leader of the liberal forces and became Premier—the second Irish Catholic to hold the position. His government was described as "unspectacular", and "a collection of party rebels, Catholics and opportunists". Much of the radical impetus of the Berry years had passed and O'Loghlen's government achieved little. In 1883, a scandal arose over the activities of Railways MinisterThomas Bent, who was accused of corruption. In the March 1883 election, the liberals were defeated and O'Loghlen lost his seat.
In 1888, O'Loghlen returned to politics as member forBelfast, which he held until 1889, when the seat was renamedPort Fairy, which he represented from 1889–1894, and again from 1897–1900. He was Attorney-General again, albeit only for one year, in thePatterson government (1893–1894).
_at_St_Kilda_Cemetery.jpg)
O'Loghlen was married to Ella Margaret Seward (1846–1919).[7] Together, they were the parents of twelve children, including:[8]
He died aged 77 in 1905, and was buried atSt Kilda Cemetery. He was succeeded in the barony by his eldest son,Michael.[9]
| Parliament of the United Kingdom | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Member of Parliament for County Clare 1877–1879 With:Lord Francis Conyngham | Succeeded by |
| Baronetage of the United Kingdom | ||
| Preceded by | Baronet (of Drumcanora) 1877–1905 | Succeeded by |
| Victorian Legislative Assembly | ||
| Preceded by | Member for West Melbourne 1878–1880 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member for West Bourke 1880–1883 With:Alfred Deakin | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member for Belfast 1888–1889 | Seat abolished |
| Seat created | Member for Port Fairy 1889–1894 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member for Port Fairy 1897–1900 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Premier of Victoria 1881–1883 | Succeeded by |
.svg)
