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{{Short description|Australian politician}}
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{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use Australian English|date=August 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
{{Infobox officeholder
|honorific-prefix =
|honorific-prefix =
|name = Sir Alexander Stuart
|name = Sir Alexander Stuart
|honorific-suffix = [[Order of St Michael and St George|KCMG]]
|honorific-suffix = [[Order of St Michael and St George|KCMG]]
|image = Alexander Stuart Federation Conference 1884.jpg
|image = Studio Portrait of Sir Alexander Stuart, c. 1882 slnsw pxa 1023.jpg
|imagesize =
|imagesize =
|smallimage = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.-->
|smallimage = <!--If this is specified, "image" should not be.-->
|alt =
|alt =
|caption = Stuart as depicted at the Federation Conference, 1884
|caption = Studio Portrait of Sir Alexander Stuart, c. 1882
|order = 9th
|order = 9th
|office = Premier of New South Wales
|office = Premier of New South Wales
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|spouse = {{Marriage|Christiana Eliza Wood|10 November 1853}}
|spouse = {{Marriage|Christiana Eliza Wood|10 November 1853}}
}}
}}
'''Sir Alexander Stuart''' [[Order of St Michael and St George|KCMG]] (21 March 1824 – 16 June 1886) was [[Premier of New South Wales]] from 5 January 1883 to 7 October 1885.
'''Sir Alexander Stuart''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|KCMG}} (21 March 1824 – 16 June 1886) was [[Premier of New South Wales]] from 5 January 1883 to 7 October 1885.


==Early years==
==Early years==
Stuart was born at [[Edinburgh]], the son of Alexander Stuart and his wife Mary, ''née'' McKnight.<ref name=adb/> Stuart was educated at the [[Edinburgh Academy]] and attended the [[University of Edinburgh]], but did not graduate. On leaving school Stuart worked in merchant's office at [[Leith]] and at [[Glasgow]].<ref name=adb/> Then Stuart worked as manager of the North of Ireland Linen Mills. In 1845 Stuart worked for the mercantile and banking house [[Carr Tagore & Co.]] in [[Calcutta]], [[India]].<ref name=adb/> Finding that the climate did not suit him, Stuart went to [[New Zealand]] in 1850.
Stuart was born at [[Edinburgh]], the son of Alexander Stuart and his wife Mary, ''née'' McKnight.<ref name=adb/> Stuart was educated at the [[Edinburgh Academy]] and attended the [[University of Edinburgh]], but did not graduate. On leaving school Stuart worked in merchant's office at [[Leith]] and at [[Glasgow]].<ref name=adb/> Then Stuart worked as manager of the North of Ireland Linen Mills. In 1845 Stuart worked for the mercantile and banking house [[Carr, Tagore and Company]] in [[Calcutta]], [[India]].<ref name=adb/> Finding that the climate did not suit him, Stuart went to [[New Zealand]] in 1850.


==Australia==
==Australia==
On 9 October 1851 Stuart arrived in [[Sydney]] aboard the ''Scotia''. The [[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] gold discoveries tempted him to try his fortune on the diggings at [[Ballarat, Victoria|Ballarat]] and [[Bendigo, Victoria|Bendigo]], but he was not successful.<ref name=dab/>
On 9 October 1851 Stuart arrived in [[Sydney]] aboard the ''Scotia''. The [[Victoria (Australia)|Victorian]] gold discoveries tempted him to try his fortune on the diggings at [[Ballarat, Victoria|Ballarat]] and [[Bendigo, Victoria|Bendigo]], but he was not successful.<ref name=dab/>


Stuart returned to Sydney in 1852 and joined the [[Westpac|Bank of New South Wales]] as assistant secretary; in 1853 he was assistant inspector.<ref name=adb/> In 1854 Stuart had become secretary and inspector of branches with a salary of £1200.<ref name=adb/> On 10 November 1853 Suart married Christiana Eliza Wood.<ref name=adb/> In 1854 Stuart investigated the embezzlement of funds from the bank's [[Ballarat, Victoria|Ballarat]] branch by its manager, George D. Lang, son of [[John Dunmore Lang]], who was convicted and sentenced to five years hard labour as a result. John Dunmore Lang published an attack on Stuart and the bank, ''The Convicts' Bank; or a Plain Statement of the Case of Alleged Embezzlement'', and as a result Lang was charged and convicted of criminal libel and served six months in prison.<ref name=adb/> In 1855 Stuart accepted a partnership in [[Robert Towns|R. Towns]] and Company, merchants, and became well known as a business man in Sydney.<ref name=dab/>
Stuart returned to Sydney in 1852 and joined the [[Bank of New South Wales]] as assistant secretary,<ref name="Mennell">{{Dictionary of Australasian Biography|Stuart, Hon. Sir Alexander}}</ref> in 1853 he was assistant inspector.<ref name=adb/> In 1854 Stuart had become secretary and inspector of branches with a salary of £1200.<ref name=adb/> On 10 November 1853 Suart married Christiana Eliza Wood.<ref name=adb/> In 1854 Stuart investigated the embezzlement of funds from the bank's Ballarat branch by its manager, George D. Lang, son of [[John Dunmore Lang]], who was convicted and sentenced to five years hard labour as a result. John Dunmore Lang published an attack on Stuart and the bank, ''The Convicts' Bank; or a Plain Statement of the Case of Alleged Embezzlement'', and as a result Lang was charged and convicted of criminal libel and served six months in prison.<ref name=adb/> In 1855 Stuart accepted a partnership in [[Robert Towns|R. Towns]] and Company, merchants, and became well known as a business man in Sydney.<ref name=dab/>


==Political career==
==Political career==
Stuart was active as a vocal lay member of the Sydney [[Anglican]] [[synod]]s from 1866<ref name=adb/> and a member of the standing committee of the Sydney Diocesan Committee and Educational and Book Society.<ref name=dab/> In the 1870s, during a controversy on the education question, Stuart spoke in favour of denominational schools and was asked by Bishop [[Frederic Barker]] to stand for parliament in 1874.<ref name=adb/> The same year Stuart was elected a member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] for [[Electoral district of East Sydney|East Sydney]] on a platform of support for the 1866 Public Schools Act, the 'rapid extension' of railways and aid to municipalities.<ref name=adb/><ref name=nsw>{{Cite web
Stuart was active as a vocal lay member of the Sydney [[Anglican]] [[synod]]s from 1866<ref name=adb/> and a member of the standing committee of the Sydney Diocesan Committee and Educational and Book Society.<ref name=dab/> In the 1870s, during a controversy on the education question, Stuart spoke in favour of denominational schools and was asked by Bishop [[Frederic Barker]] to stand for parliament in 1874.<ref name=adb/> The same year Stuart was elected a member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] for [[Electoral district of East Sydney|East Sydney]] on a platform of support for the 1866 Public Schools Act, the 'rapid extension' of railways and aid to municipalities.<ref name=adb/><ref name=nsw>{{cite NSW Parliament |title=Sir Alexander Stuart (1824–1886) |id=541 |former=Yes |access-date=11 May 2019}}</ref>
| title =Sir Alexander Stuart (1824 - 1886)
| work =Members of Parliament
⚫
| publisher =[[Parliament of New South Wales]]
| url =http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/1fb6ebed995667c2ca256ea100825164/eaab24f4df01f2c8ca256cb70011a8b6?OpenDocument
| accessdate = 3 May 2007 }}</ref>


On 8 February 1876 Stuart succeeded [[William Forster (Australian politician)|William Forster]] as colonial treasurer in the [[Robertson ministry (1875–1877)|third ministry]] led by [[John Robertson (New South Wales Premier)|Sir John Robertson]], and held the position until Robertson was defeated in March 1877.<ref name=adb/> Stuart resigned his seat in November 1879 to become [[agent-general]] at [[London]] but gave up this appointment in April 1880 in order to fend off bankruptcy without having left Sydney.<ref name=adb/> Stuart was returned for [[Electoral district of Illawarra|Illawarra]] at the general election in 1880 and became leader of the opposition. In 1882 the [[Parkes ministry (1878-1883)|Parkes-Robertson ministry]] was defeated and Stuart became Premier from 5 January 1883 to 6 October 1885. Stuart succeeded in passing a land act in 1884 after much opposition, and other acts dealt with the civil service, fire brigades, the university, and licensing.<ref name=dab/>
On 8 February 1876 Stuart succeeded [[William Forster (Australian politician)|William Forster]] as colonial treasurer in the [[Robertson ministry (1875–1877)|third ministry]] led by [[John Robertson (New South Wales Premier)|Sir John Robertson]], and held the position until Robertson was defeated in March 1877.<ref name=adb/> Stuart resigned his seat in November 1879 to become [[Agent-General for New South Wales|agent-general]] at [[London]] but gave up this appointment in April 1880 in order to fend off bankruptcy without having left Sydney.<ref name=adb/> Stuart was returned for [[Electoral district of Illawarra|Illawarra]] at the general election in 1880 and became leader of the opposition. In 1882 the [[Parkes ministry (1878-1883)|Parkes-Robertson ministry]] was defeated and Stuart became Premier from 5 January 1883 to 6 October 1885. Stuart succeeded in passing a land act in 1884 after much opposition, and other acts dealt with the civil service, fire brigades, the university, and licensing.<ref name=dab/>


Stuart was under constant attack in parliament during 1884 over his ownership of mineral lands in the [[Illawarra]]. In October 1884 Stuart had a paralytic stroke and went to [[Napier, New Zealand]] to recuperate at the house of his brother, the Bishop of [[Diocese of Waiapu|Waiapu]]. It was during his illness that [[William Bede Dalley|W. B. Dalley]] as Acting-Premier offered to send a contingent to the [[Sudan]]. Stuart resigned in October 1885 and was nominated to a seat in the [[New South Wales Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]. In 1886 Stuart was appointed executive commissioner to the Colonial and Indian exhibition at [[London]], but died there of [[typhoid]], survived by his wife, son and probably one of his three daughters.<ref name=adb/><ref name=dab/>
Stuart was under constant attack in parliament during 1884 over his ownership of mineral lands in the [[Illawarra]]. In October 1884 Stuart had a paralytic stroke and went to [[Napier, New Zealand]] to recuperate at the house of his brother, the Bishop of [[Diocese of Waiapu|Waiapu]]. It was during his illness that [[William Bede Dalley|W. B. Dalley]] as Acting-Premier offered to send a contingent to the [[Sudan]]. Stuart resigned in October 1885 and was nominated to a seat in the [[New South Wales Legislative Council|Legislative Council]]. In 1886 Stuart was appointed executive commissioner to the Colonial and Indian exhibition at [[London]], but died there of [[typhoid]], survived by his wife, son and probably one of his three daughters.<ref name=adb/><ref name=dab/>


⚫
Stuart was a man of probity, with a high reputation in financial circles.<ref name=dab>{{Dictionary of Australian Biography |first=Sir Alexander (1824–1886) |last=Stuart |shortlink=0-dict-biogSt-Sy.html#stuart1 |access-date=2 April 2010}}</ref> According to [[the Sydney Morning Herald]], "He was slow in making up his mind, and there was a want of resolute firmness … but … he had a good deal of the dogged determination that belongs to the Scotch character, and a large capacity for patient endurance … He was very friendly … but he lacked that magnetic power which great leaders have of fascinating their comrades, and of binding them as it were by hooks of steel."<ref name=adb>{{Australian Dictionary of Biography |first=Bede |last=Nairn |first2=Martha |last2=Rutledge |title=Stuart, Sir Alexander (1824–1886) |id2=stuart-sir-alexander-4661 |access-date=2021-02-10}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13640883 |title=News of Sir Alexander Stuart's death |newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=18 June 1886 |accessdate=10 February 2021 |page=6 |via=Trove}}</ref>
Stuart was a man of probity, with a high reputation in financial circles.<ref name=dab>{{Cite web
| first=Percival
| last=Serle
| title =Stuart, Sir Alexander (1824 - 1886)
| publisher =[[Project Gutenberg Australia]]
| work=[[Dictionary of Australian Biography]]
| url =http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogSt-Sy.html#stuart1
⚫
| accessdate = 2 April 2010}}</ref> According to [[the Sydney Morning Herald]], "He was slow in making up his mind, and there was a want of resolute firmness … but … he had a good deal of the dogged determination that belongs to the Scotch character, and a large capacity for patient endurance … He was very friendly … but he lacked that magnetic power which great leaders have of fascinating their comrades, and of binding them as it were by hooks of steel."<ref name=adb>{{Cite web
| first=Bede
| last=Nairn
| coauthors=Martha Rutledge
| title =Stuart, Sir Alexander (1824 - 1886)
| publisher =[[Australian National University]]
| work=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]
| url =http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A060230b.htm
| accessdate = 2 April 2010}}</ref>


==Honours==
==Honours==

Stuart was created [[Order of St Michael and St George|KCMG]] in 1885.<ref name=dab/>
Stuart was created a [[Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George]] (KCMG) in 1885.<ref name=dab/><ref>{{London Gazette |title=Chancery of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George |issue=25477 |pages=2631 |date=6 June 1885}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}
&nbsp;

{{S-start}}
{{S-start}}
{{s-par|au-nsw}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-off}}
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{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Parkes]]}}
{{Succession box|
title=[[Premier of New South Wales]]|
{{s-ttl|title=[[Premier of New South Wales]]<br>[[Colonial Secretary of New South Wales|Colonial Secretary]] |years=1883{{spaced ndash}}1885}}
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{{s-aft|after=[[George Dibbs]]}}
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before=[[Henry Parkes]]|
{{s-bef|before=[[William Forster (Australian politician)|William Forster]]}}
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after=[[George Dibbs]]|
{{s-ttl|title=[[Colonial Treasurer of New South Wales|Colonial Treasurer]] | years=1876{{spaced ndash}}1877}}
years=1883–1885|
{{s-aft|after=[[William Piddington]]}}
}}
{{s-par|au-nsw-la}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Charles Moore (New South Wales politician)|Charles Moore]] <br> [[George Oakes (Australian politician)|George Oakes]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Electoral district of East Sydney|East Sydney]] | years=1874{{spaced ndash}}1879 | alongside=[[John Davies (New South Wales politician)|Davies]], [[John Macintosh|Macintosh]], [[Henry Parkes|Parkes]]/[[James Greenwood (New South Wales politician)|Greenwood]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Arthur Renwick]]}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Samuel Gray (Australian politician)|Samuel Gray]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member for [[Electoral district of Illawarra|Illawarra]] | years=1880{{spaced ndash}}1885}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Andrew Lysaght, senior|Andrew Lysaght]]}}
{{s-dip}}
{{s-bef|before= [[William Forster (Australian politician)|William Forster]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Agent-General for New South Wales]]|years=1879{{spaced ndash}}1880}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Saul Samuel|Sir Saul Samuel]]}}
{{S-end}}
{{S-end}}


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{{Premiers of New South Wales}}
{{NewSouthWalesPremiers}}
{{Treasurers of New South Wales}}
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{{Authority control}}


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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}}

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{{Authority control|VIAF=94244845}}

<!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]] -->
{{Persondata
|NAME=Stuart, Alexander
|ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
|SHORT DESCRIPTION=New South Wales politician and Premier
|DATE OF BIRTH= 21 March 1824
|PLACE OF BIRTH= [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]
|DATE OF DEATH= 16 June 1886
|PLACE OF DEATH= [[London]], [[England]]
}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Alexander}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stuart, Alexander}}
[[Category:Premiers of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Premiers of New South Wales]]
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[[Category:Colonial Secretaries of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Colonial Secretaries of New South Wales]]
[[Category:1886 deaths]]
[[Category:1886 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian people of Scottish descent]]
[[Category:Colony of New South Wales politicians]]
[[Category:Treasurers of New South Wales]]
[[Category:Treasurers of New South Wales]]
[[Category:19th-century Australian politicians]]
[[Category:Agents-General for New South Wales]]

Latest revision as of 06:13, 10 March 2024

Sir Alexander Stuart
KCMG
Studio Portrait of Sir Alexander Stuart, c. 1882
9th Premier of New South Wales
In office
5 January 1883 – 7 October 1885
GovernorLord Augustus Loftus
Preceded byHenry Parkes
Succeeded byGeorge Dibbs
Personal details
Born(1824-03-21)21 March 1824
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died16 June 1886(1886-06-16) (aged 62)
London, England
Spouse
Christiana Eliza Wood
​
​
(m. 1853)​

Sir Alexander Stuart KCMG (21 March 1824 – 16 June 1886) was Premier of New South Wales from 5 January 1883 to 7 October 1885.

Early years

[edit]

Stuart was born at Edinburgh, the son of Alexander Stuart and his wife Mary, née McKnight.[1] Stuart was educated at the Edinburgh Academy and attended the University of Edinburgh, but did not graduate. On leaving school Stuart worked in merchant's office at Leith and at Glasgow.[1] Then Stuart worked as manager of the North of Ireland Linen Mills. In 1845 Stuart worked for the mercantile and banking house Carr, Tagore and Company in Calcutta, India.[1] Finding that the climate did not suit him, Stuart went to New Zealand in 1850.

Australien

[edit]

On 9 October 1851 Stuart arrived in Sydney aboard the Scotia. The Victorian gold discoveries tempted him to try his fortune on the diggings at Ballarat and Bendigo, but he was not successful.[2]

Stuart returned to Sydney in 1852 and joined the Bank of New South Wales as assistant secretary,[3] in 1853 he was assistant inspector.[1] In 1854 Stuart had become secretary and inspector of branches with a salary of £1200.[1] On 10 November 1853 Suart married Christiana Eliza Wood.[1] In 1854 Stuart investigated the embezzlement of funds from the bank's Ballarat branch by its manager, George D. Lang, son of John Dunmore Lang, who was convicted and sentenced to five years hard labour as a result. John Dunmore Lang published an attack on Stuart and the bank, The Convicts' Bank; or a Plain Statement of the Case of Alleged Embezzlement, and as a result Lang was charged and convicted of criminal libel and served six months in prison.[1] In 1855 Stuart accepted a partnership in R. Towns and Company, merchants, and became well known as a business man in Sydney.[2]

Political career

[edit]

Stuart was active as a vocal lay member of the Sydney Anglican synods from 1866[1] and a member of the standing committee of the Sydney Diocesan Committee and Educational and Book Society.[2] In the 1870s, during a controversy on the education question, Stuart spoke in favour of denominational schools and was asked by Bishop Frederic Barker to stand for parliament in 1874.[1] The same year Stuart was elected a member of the Legislative Assembly for East Sydney on a platform of support for the 1866 Public Schools Act, the 'rapid extension' of railways and aid to municipalities.[1][4]

On 8 February 1876 Stuart succeeded William Forster as colonial treasurer in the third ministry led by Sir John Robertson, and held the position until Robertson was defeated in March 1877.[1] Stuart resigned his seat in November 1879 to become agent-general at London but gave up this appointment in April 1880 in order to fend off bankruptcy without having left Sydney.[1] Stuart was returned for Illawarra at the general election in 1880 and became leader of the opposition. In 1882 the Parkes-Robertson ministry was defeated and Stuart became Premier from 5 January 1883 to 6 October 1885. Stuart succeeded in passing a land act in 1884 after much opposition, and other acts dealt with the civil service, fire brigades, the university, and licensing.[2]

Stuart was under constant attack in parliament during 1884 over his ownership of mineral lands in the Illawarra. In October 1884 Stuart had a paralytic stroke and went to Napier, New Zealand to recuperate at the house of his brother, the Bishop of Waiapu. It was during his illness that W. B. Dalley as Acting-Premier offered to send a contingent to the Sudan. Stuart resigned in October 1885 and was nominated to a seat in the Legislative Council. In 1886 Stuart was appointed executive commissioner to the Colonial and Indian exhibition at London, but died there of typhoid, survived by his wife, son and probably one of his three daughters.[1][2]

Stuart was a man of probity, with a high reputation in financial circles.[2] According to the Sydney Morning Herald, "He was slow in making up his mind, and there was a want of resolute firmness … but … he had a good deal of the dogged determination that belongs to the Scotch character, and a large capacity for patient endurance … He was very friendly … but he lacked that magnetic power which great leaders have of fascinating their comrades, and of binding them as it were by hooks of steel."[1][5]

Honours

[edit]

Stuart was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in 1885.[2][6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Nairn, Bede; Rutledge, Martha. "Stuart, Sir Alexander (1824–1886)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Serle, Percival (1949). "Stuart, Sir Alexander (1824–1886)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 2 April 2010.
  3. ^ Mennell, Philip (1892). "Stuart, Hon. Sir Alexander" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.
  4. ^ "Sir Alexander Stuart (1824–1886)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 11 May 2019.
  5. ^ "News of Sir Alexander Stuart's death". The Sydney Morning Herald. 18 June 1886. p. 6. Retrieved 10 February 2021 – via Trove.
  6. ^ "Chancery of the Order of Saint Michael and Saint George". The London Gazette. No. 25477. 6 June 1885. p. 2631.

 

Parliament of New South Wales
Political offices
Preceded by Premier of New South Wales
Colonial Secretary
1883 – 1885 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Colonial Treasurer
1876 – 1877 		Succeeded by
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
Preceded by Member for East Sydney
1874 – 1879
Served alongside: Davies, Macintosh, Parkes/Greenwood 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member for Illawarra
1880 – 1885 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Agent-General for New South Wales
1879 – 1880 		Succeeded by
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