Background
Santo was born at Saltash, Cornwall, and trained to be a carpenter.
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Philip Santo
Edit ProfileCareer
At the age of 22 he left for South Australia on the ship Brightman, arriving in Adelaide in December 1840. He worked as a builder in Adelaide, then Burra. He moved to Melbourne during the rush to the Victorian goldfields but soon returned to set up a shop in Grote Street near Victoria Square in 1857, then Waymouth Street from 1866, then from 1873 as Philip Santo & Company in Waymouth Street and Lipson Street Portuguese Adelaide.
Initially selling timber. then building materials then general hardware, riverboats and ships.
By 1880 they had diversified into such disparate goods as patent medicines, perfumes and flavourings, American waggons, brooms, "kerosine", "gasoline" and cabinet organs. The company ceased advertising around 1890.
Santo was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in 1860 for the City of Adelaide district, 1862 and 1865 for East Adelaide then in 1868 for Barossa and was appointed Commissioner of Public works on a number of occasions for various periods, first in the Waterhouse cabinet, then with Henry Ayers to 1868. He lost his seat in 1870, during which year he was elected to the Legislative Council and held that seat for 21 years.
He died at his home, "Fernleigh House" on West Terrace, Adelaide.
Mary Maynard Santo (1841–1941) married James Shaw Greer (1835–1890), later mayor of Unley
Jane Santo (1848–1875) married Review Thomas Jefferson Gore Master of Arts (1839–1923) of the Grote Saint church
Sarah Santo (1850–1945) married Review Thomas Jefferson Gore Master of Arts (1839–1923) on 5 October 1876
Esther Santo (1852–1941)
Philip Santo, Junior., (11 December 1842 – 13 June 1868) married Albertina Kidner (c 1845 – 10 December 1909) on 9 October 1866.
His widow, Albertina, married Doctor West. J. Torr on 20 December 1892.
