![Richard_Windeyer_i8397](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1a/Richard_Windeyer_i8397.jpg)
Richard Windeyer (10 August 1806 – 2 December 1847) was a journalist,
barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...
and Australian politician.
Early life
Richard Windeyer was born in London, the eldest of nine children
of
Charles Windeyer
Charles Windeyer (1 July 1780 – 30 January 1855) was an Australian magistrate who held a variety of public positions and was later appointed by Governor George Gipps as the first Mayor of Sydney. He was the father of barrister and politician ...
, first recognised reporter in the
House of Lords
The House of Lords, also known as the House of Peers, is the Bicameralism, upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Membership is by Life peer, appointment, Hereditary peer, heredity or Lords Spiritual, official function. Like the ...
, and his wife Ann Mary, ''née'' Rudd.
[ Richard's parents and family went to Sydney in 1828, intending to go on the land, and obtained a grant of . Charles Windeyer however, accepted the position of chief clerk in the police office and afterwards became a police ]magistrate
The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...
at Sydney. In 1842, Charles was the first Mayor of Sydney
The Right Honourable the Lord Mayor of Sydney is the head of the Council of the City of Sydney, which is the local government area covering the central business district of Sydney in the State of New South Wales, Australia. The Lord Mayor ha ...
. In 1843 Charles Windeyer was an unsuccessful candidate at the first election for the New South Wales Legislative Council, and retired from his magistracy at the end of 1848 with a pension.
Richard Windeyer remained in London and like his father before him became a parliamentary reporter. Richard Windeyer was employed on ''The Times
''The Times'' is a British daily national newspaper based in London. It began in 1785 under the title ''The Daily Universal Register'', adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. ''The Times'' and its sister paper ''The Sunday Times'' (fou ...
'' and other newspapers. On 26 April 1832 Richard Windeyer married Maria ''née'' Camfield and their only child, William Charles Windeyer
Sir William Charles Windeyer (29 September 1834 – 11 September 1897) was an Australian politician and judge.
As a New South Wales politician he was responsible for the creation of Belmore Park (north of the new Central railway constructed in ...
, was born on 29 September 1834.[ Windeyer studied law and was admitted as a barrister to the ]Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court exclusively entitled to call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple, Gray's Inn an ...
in 1834.[
Windeyer was advised by his father to travel to ]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 ...
and on 28 November 1835 arrived in Sydney[ where he built up a large practice as a ]barrister
A barrister is a type of lawyer in common law jurisdictions. Barristers mostly specialise in courtroom advocacy and litigation. Their tasks include taking cases in superior courts and tribunals, drafting legal pleadings, researching law and ...
. In 1838 Windeyer, along with William Foster and William à Beckett
Sir William à Beckett (28 July 1806 – 27 June 1869) was a British barrister and the first Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria.
Background
Born in London, he was the eldest son of William à Beckett, also a solicitor. His younger b ...
, defended the 11 colonists charged with murder in relation to the Myall Creek massacre
The Myall Creek massacre was the killing of at least twenty-eight unarmed Indigenous Australians by twelve colonists on 10 June 1838 at the Myall Creek near the Gwydir River, in northern New South Wales. After two trials, seven of the twelve c ...
. By 1840 he was one of the leaders at the bar and had made a reputation especially in '' nisi prius'' work. In 1838 he bought land in the Hunter Valley
The Hunter Region, also commonly known as the Hunter Valley, is a region of New South Wales, Australia, extending from approximately to north of Sydney. It contains the Hunter River and its tributaries with highland areas to the north and ...
, and by 1842 he held about and spent large amounts on draining extensive swamp lands in the vicinity of Grahamstown (near Raymond Terrace
Raymond Terrace is a town in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia, about by road north of Newcastle on the Pacific Highway. Established in 1837 it is situated at the confluence of the Hunter and Williams rivers. The town was nam ...
and building a homestead at Tomago
Tomago is a combined industrial/semi-rural suburb of the Port Stephens local government area in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It is located just north of the Hunter River and west of the body of water known as Fullerton Cove ...
. Windeyer planted thirty acres (12 ha) of vines and made his first wine in 1845. He also raised cattle, horses and pigs and experimented with sugar-cane and wheat.[
]
Parliamentary career
At the first election for the New South Wales Legislative Council held in July 1843, Windeyer was elected for the County of Durham
The County Palatine of Durham and Sadberge, commonly referred to as County Durham or simply Durham, is a historic county in Northern England. Until 1889, it was controlled by powers granted under the Bishopric of Durham. The county and Northum ...
and soon brought in a measure, the ''Monetary Confidence Bill'', designed to relieve the economic depression at the time. In spite of brilliant speeches in opposition to it made by Robert Lowe
Robert Lowe, 1st Viscount Sherbrooke, GCB, PC (4 December 1811 – 27 July 1892), British statesman, was a pivotal conservative spokesman who helped shape British politics in the latter half of the 19th century. He held office under William E ...
the bill was carried by 14 votes to seven; however, it was vetoed by the governor, Sir George Gipps
Sir George Gipps (23 December 1790 – 28 February 1847) was the Governor of the British colony of New South Wales for eight years, between 1838 and 1846. His governorship oversaw a tumultuous period where the rights to land were bitterly conte ...
, and nothing more was heard of it.[ Windeyer supported free trade and worked to remove duties on the export of New South Wales tobacco to ]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 ...
and wheat to the United Kingdom, but supported an import duty of 1 shilling
The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 12 pence o ...
a bushel on foreign wheat on the basis that it would be a revenue not a protective duty.[
In October 1844 Windeyer moved an amendment to a Bill proposing to bring in ]Lord Stanley
Earl of Derby ( ) is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby, under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the en ...
's system of national education, to the effect that primary education should be established for the poor 'gratuitously if necessary' and to allow government aid for denominational schools in some circumstances.[ In 1845 Windeyer, though almost overwhelmed with work, took up the cause of the already fast-dwindling aborigines and obtained a select committee to inquire into the question. He was also in the forefront of the struggle with Gipps concerning generally the powers of the council and the governor on the land question, and in 1846 moved and carried an address to the governor acquainting him that the council could not entertain a Bill he had originated.][ Windeyer promoted a Libel Act passed 1847, that required that publication of libel could only be justified if it was both true and in the public interest.][
]
Late life and legacy
Windeyer had become financially involved in the long-continued depression and, although he had made a large income at the bar, was obliged to assign his estate. He died on 2 December 1847 while on a visit to friends at Launceston, Tasmania
)
, nickname =
, image_map = Tasmania in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of Tasmania in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdi ...
, the result of anxiety and overwork and an internal disease.[
Windeyer had a great reputation at the bar as an advocate of much power and ability, and during his short career in parliament showed himself to be a strong and conscientious man. He was a great advocate for representative government and when he died ]William Wentworth
William Charles Wentworth (August 179020 March 1872) was an Australian pastoralist, explorer, newspaper editor, lawyer, politician and author, who became one of the wealthiest and most powerful figures of early colonial New South Wales.
Throug ...
declared he "had lost his right hand man". His early death robbed Australia of a man who might have done his country much service, and reached almost any position in it.[
]
Descendants
He had one child, William Charles Windeyer
Sir William Charles Windeyer (29 September 1834 – 11 September 1897) was an Australian politician and judge.
As a New South Wales politician he was responsible for the creation of Belmore Park (north of the new Central railway constructed in ...
, who would become Attorney General of NSW (twice, briefly), a Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. Whilst the Supreme Court i ...
and 6th Chancellor of the University of Sydney
The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's si ...
. His grandson, Richard Windeyer
Richard Windeyer (10 August 1806 – 2 December 1847) was a journalist, barrister and Australian politician.
Early life
Richard Windeyer was born in London, the eldest of nine children
of Charles Windeyer, first recognised reporter in the House ...
, would become a King's Counsel
In the United Kingdom and in some Commonwealth countries, a King's Counsel ( post-nominal initials KC) during the reign of a king, or Queen's Counsel (post-nominal initials QC) during the reign of a queen, is a lawyer (usually a barrister or ...
and Acting Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW. His great-grandson, Victor Windeyer
Major General Sir William John Victor Windeyer, (28 July 1900 – 23 November 1987) was an Australian judge, soldier, educator, and a Justice of the High Court of Australia.
Early life and career
Windeyer was born in Sydney, into a legal famil ...
would become a Justice of the High Court of Australia
The High Court of Australia is Australia's apex court. It exercises Original jurisdiction, original and appellate jurisdiction on matters specified within Constitution of Australia, Australia's Constitution.
The High Court was established fol ...
between 1958 and 1972, and would be appointed to the Privy Council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...
in 1963. Another descendant, William Victor Windeyer, would also become a President of the Law Society of New South Wales
The Law Society of New South Wales is a professional association which represents over 29,000 solicitors in Australia. The Law Society has statutory powers and regulates the practice of law in New South Wales.http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/law ...
and a Justice of the Supreme Court of NSW.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Windeyer, Richard
1806 births
1847 deaths
Members of the New South Wales Legislative Council
Port Stephens Council
Australian people of English descent
19th-century Australian politicians