Sir John Lackey (6 October 1830 – 11 November 1903) was a magistrate and politician in colonial

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

President of the New South Wales Legislative Council The President of the New South Wales Legislative Council is the presiding officer of the upper house of the Parliament of New South Wales, the Legislative Council. The presiding officer of the lower house is the speaker of the Legislative Asse ...

1892 to 1903.

Early life

Lackey was born in

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

, New South Wales, son of William Lackey and his second wife Mary, O'Dowd. His grandfather was a wealthy publican and paid for his education Lackey was educated at the Sydney College, subsequently adopting pastoral pursuits in the

Parramatta Parramatta () is a suburb and major Central business district, commercial centre in Greater Western Sydney, located in the state of New South Wales, Australia. It is located approximately west of the Sydney central business district on the ban ...

district. In 1852 he became a magistrate.

Parliamentary career

He unsuccessfully contested Central Cumberland at the 1859 election, He was the first of two members elected for

at the election on 8 December 1860. James Byrnes took offence at being placed second behind a newcomer, stating that the majority of voters had decided that he was not fit to serve them and resigned in March 1861 without taking his seat. Lackey strongly supported the passing of the

Robertson Land Acts The Crown Lands Acts 1861 (NSW) (or Robertson Land Acts) were introduced by the New South Wales Premier, John Robertson, in 1861 to reform land holdings in New South Wales and in particular to break the Squattocracy's domination of land tenure. ...

in 1861. He was defeated at Parramatta at the election on 24 November 1864, but on 27 June 1867 he won the Central Cumberland by-election to re-enter the Assembly. He was Chairman of Committees from February 1870 August 1872. From February 1875 to March 1877, he was Secretary for Public Works in the third Robertson ministry. In 1877 he was Minister of Justice and Public Instruction in the short-lived fourth Robertson ministry and was again Secretary for Public Works in the Parkes-Robertson Administration from December 1878 to January 1883. In August 1885 he resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was appointed to the Legislative Council in December 1885. In 1889 he was the

Vice-President of the Executive Council The Vice-President of the Executive Council is the minister in the Government of Australia who acts as the presiding officer of meetings of the Federal Executive Council when the Governor-General is absent. The Vice-President of the Executiv ...

in the second Dibbs ministry. In August 1892 he was appointed President of the Legislative Council, serving until his resignation as president on 23 May 1903.

Death

Lackey died on in Bong Bong, New South Wales, survived by two sons.

Honours

He was made a

Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, King George III. It is named in honour ...

(KCMG) in 1894.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lackey, John 1830 births 1903 deaths Australian Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Members of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council Presidents of the New South Wales Legislative Council Politicians from Sydney 19th-century Australian politicians