Henry Parkes

Background

Henry Parkes was born on May 27, 1815 in Warwickshire, England, the son of a tenant farmer.

Education

Parkes had only sketchy schooling.

Career

Parkes began working at the age of 8. As a young man, he joined the Birmingham Political Union (a Chartist-inspired group) and began to read widely. Failing to make his way in England, he emigrated to Australia in 1839, and after a time settled in Sydney. He worked as a farmhand before setting up a small business. His first volume of poems was published in 1842, under the title of Stolen Moments.

He began to take an active part in politics, and soon showed himself the wielder of an incisive style as a leader-writer, and a popular orator of unrivalled influence. He took a prominent part in the movement against the transportation of convicts, and in 1849 started the Empire newspaper to inculcate his policy of attacking abuses while remaining loyal to the Crown. One of the reforms for which Parkes fought most strenuously was the full introduction of responsible government. He was returned to the legislative council under the old constitution as member for Sydney, and on the establishment of a legislative assembly in 1856 was elected for East Sydney.

Because of poor management the Empire failed, and in 1858 Parkes suffered insolvency, leading to his temporary political eclipse. He went to London to promote Australian immigration in 1861, returning to Sydney to reenter Parliament in 1863. He became colonial secretary in the Martin ministry form 1866 to 1868 and carried the Public Schools Act, providing unified administration under an Education Council. Embroiled in sectarian issues, he had few supporters when he again faced financial difficulties (this time as a merchant) in 1870.

His great chance came in 1872, when the Martin ministry resigned on the question of the sum payable by Victoria in lieu of border duties. Parkes had for several years persistently advocated free imports as a remedy for the financial distress of the colony. He now became prime minister and colonial secretary; and rising to the height of his opportunity, he removed the cause of dispute by throwing the colony open to trade. He held office till 1875. After clashes with the Legislative Council over electoral reform, his ministry became ineffectual. His second ministry (1877) lasted 5 months.

Finding that the state of parties did not allow of the existence of a stable ministry, he formed a coalition with Sir John Robertson, and became premier and colonial secretary for the third time from December 1878 to January 1883. With his ministry's defeat in 1883, Parkes eased away from the political round but did not hold to his stated intention to retire. In 1887 he led a vigorous free-trade campaign; his fourth ministry slashed recently increased import duties and imposed a stiff poll tax on Chinese. He fell from office in January 1889, but in the following March became for the fifth time premier and colonial secretary. The remainder of his life was chiefly devoted to the question of Australian federation.

The Federal Convention at Melbourne in 1890 was mainly his work. He presided over the convention at Sydney in 1891 and was chiefly responsible for the draft constitution there carried. In October 1891 Parkes resigned the premiership when the newly formed Labour party withdrew support, and he was not elected at the poll of 1895. He died on April 27, 1896.

Achievements

• In his ministries between 1872 and 1887 Parkes established New South Wales as a free-trade colony. He was knighted in 1877. In his fourth administration (1887–1889) he carried through measures to improve railways and public works and to limit Chinese immigration. He published numerous volumes of verse, a collection of speeches on the Federal Government of Australia (1890), and an autobiography, Fifty Years in the making of Australian History (1892).

Works

More photos

• book

  • The Federal Government Of Australasia: Speeches Delivered On Various Occasions (november, 1889-may, 1890)...
  • Fifty Years in the Making of Australian History (Classic Reprint)
  • Murmurs Of The Stream...

Connections

Parker was married twice. On July 11, 1836 he married to Clarinda Varney. On February 6, 1889 he married to Eleanor Dixon.

Spouse:

Clarinda Varney

Spouse:

Eleanor Dixon

References

• Sir Henry Parkes, his life and work
• Henry Parkes
• Life of Sir Henry Parkes, G.C.M.G.; Australian Statesman
• PARLIAMENT FACTIONS AND PARTIES - The First Thirty Years of Responsible Government in New South Wales, 1856 - 1889