Sir James Willson Agnew (2 October 1815 – 8 November 1901) was an Irish-born Australian politician, who was
Premier of Tasmania
The premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the leader of the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly is invited by the governor of Ta ...
from 1886 to 1887.
Early life
Agnew was born in
Ballyclare
Ballyclare () is a small town in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It had a population of 9,953 according to the 2011 census, and is located within the Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council area.
It sits on the river Six Mile Water. The town ...
, Ireland and educated at London, Paris and
Glasgow
Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...
; he qualified for the medical profession, M.R.C.S.(London) in 1838, and M.D.(Glasgow) 1839. Soon after he went to Australia, arriving at Sydney before the end of 1839. He decided to settle in the west of Port Phillip District (now the Western district of
Victoria
Victoria most commonly refers to:
* Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia
* Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada
* Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory
* Victoria, Seychelle ...
), but not enjoying the life, went to
Melbourne
Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
, where he was offered the position of private secretary to
John Franklin
Sir John Franklin (16 April 1786 – 11 June 1847) was a British Royal Navy officer and Arctic explorer. After serving in wars against Napoleonic France and the United States, he led two expeditions into the Canadian Arctic and through ...
, then governor of
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the colonial name of the island of Tasmania used by the British during the European exploration of Australia in the 19th century. A British settlement was established in Van Diemen's Land in 1803 before it became a sepa ...
(now
Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
). He sailed for
Hobart
Hobart ( ; Nuennonne/Palawa kani: ''nipaluna'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Home to almost half of all Tasmanians, it is the least-populated Australian state capital city, and second-small ...
in 1841 and found that the position had been filled. He was, however, soon appointed assistant surgeon at the Cascades Peninsula. Later in 1841 he was appointed assistant surgeon to the Saltwater River probation station, located on the
Tasman Peninsula
The Tasman Peninsula, officially Turrakana / Tasman Peninsula, is a peninsula located in south-east Tasmania, Australia, approximately by the Arthur Highway, south-east of Hobart.
The Tasman Peninsula lies south and west of Forestier Peninsula ...
In 1845 he transferred to the General Hospital at Hobart, later becoming colonial surgeon.
This was followed by private practice in Hobart for 36 years. He had joined the Tasmanian Society, afterwards the
Royal Society of Tasmania
The Royal Society of Tasmania (RST) was formed in 1843. It was the first Royal Society outside the United Kingdom, and its mission is the advancement of knowledge.
The work of the Royal Society of Tasmania includes:
* Promoting Tasmanian historic ...
, in 1841, and in that year contributed an article to its journal on the "Poison of the Tasmanian Snakes". In March 1851 he was elected a member of the council and remained on the council until his death some 50 years later. He had abandoned practising medicine when he took up political life full-time in 1877. He was honorary secretary from 1861 to 1893, and for several years a vice-president.
Political career
Agnew retired from his medical profession and was elected by Hobart to the
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Tasmanian Legislative Council is the upper house of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. It is one of the two chambers of the Parliament, the other being the House of Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in the state capital, H ...
in 1877. He was a member of the
Philip Fysh
Sir Philip Oakley Fysh (1 March 1835 – 20 December 1919) was an English-born Australian politician. He arrived in Tasmania in 1859 and became a leading merchant in Hobart. He served two terms as premier of Tasmania (1877–1878, 1887–1892) ...
'Fysh-Giblin' ministry in that year, without portfolio, and was also in the
William Giblin
William Robert Giblin (4 November 1840 – 17 January 1887) was Premier of Tasmania ( Australia) from 5 March 1878 until 20 December 1878 and from 1879 until 1884.
Early life
Giblin was born at Hobart, Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania), son of ...
ministry which succeeded it, and in the second Giblin ministry from October 1879 to February 1881.
Agnew was then absent from the colony on a long visit to Europe. After his return he was elected to the
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Tasmanian Legislative Council is the upper house of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. It is one of the two chambers of the Parliament, the other being the House of Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in the state capital, H ...
in 1884, and on 8 March 1886 he took over from
Adye Douglas
Sir Adye Douglas (31 May 1815 – 10 April 1906) was an Australian lawyer and politician, and first class cricket player, who played one match for Tasmania. He was Premier of Tasmania from 15 August 1884 to 8 March 1886.
Early life
The so ...
and formed a ministry in which he was premier and chief secretary. At the age of 70 years and 157 days, Agnew was the oldest person ever to become Premier of Tasmania. His ministry lasted a little more than 12 months and he resigned his post and political life on 29 March 1887. His last years were spent at Hobart where he died on 8 November 1901.
Legacy
Agnew was created
KCMG KCMG may refer to
* KC Motorgroup, based in Hong Kong, China
* Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, British honour
* KCMG-LP, radio station in New Mexico, USA
* KCMG, callsign 1997-2001 of Los Angeles radio station KKLQ (FM) ...
in July 1894, formalized in January 1895. He married Louisa Mary Fraser in 1846, who died in 1868. He remarried in 1878 to Blanche Legge. There were several children by the first marriage, of whom only a daughter survived him.
Agnew was a founder and fostered the
Royal Society of Tasmania
The Royal Society of Tasmania (RST) was formed in 1843. It was the first Royal Society outside the United Kingdom, and its mission is the advancement of knowledge.
The work of the Royal Society of Tasmania includes:
* Promoting Tasmanian historic ...
and gave many volumes to its library, he was much interested in the museum and botanical gardens and the public library, of which he was chairman. Agnew was the founding President of
The Art Society of Tasmania
The Art Society of Tasmania was founded as the Tasmanian Art Association in 1884 by Louisa Swan and Maria Evans as a means to cultivate artistic culture and practice in the Colony of Tasmania.
History
Two young artists, Louisa Swan, a landscap ...
, serving for seventeen years.
Agnew joined the council of the Royal Society of Tasmania in 1851 and was honorary secretary in 1861–81 & 84–94; was chairman of the boards that administered the public library and museum, a member of the council of education and for a short term he was a member of the council of the university. His legacy also includes famous catchphrases such as "boider" "goody proctor" and an all-time favourite "bopsey".
Arms
See also
*
References
Sources
*
*
*
*Australian Encyclopædia (1912 - third edition revised 1927) published by Angus & Robertson Limited, Sydney (page 40)
Additional resources listed by ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'':
*E. L. Piesse, ''The Foundation and Early Work of the Society: With Some Account of Earlier Institutions and Societies in Tasmania'' (Hobart, 1913); F. C. Green (ed), ''A Century of Responsible Government 1856-1956'' (Hobart, 1956); ''Mercury'' (Hobart), 9, 11 November 1901; correspondence file under James Agnew (Archives Office of Tasmania).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agnew, James Wilson
1815 births
1901 deaths
Premiers of Tasmania
Australian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Australian politicians awarded knighthoods
Politicians from Hobart
People from Ballyclare
Members of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Irish emigrants to colonial Australia
19th-century Australian politicians