Thomas Turner à Beckett (13 September 1808 – 1 July 1892) was a lawyer and politician in colonial
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is a state in southeastern Australia. It is the second-smallest state with a land area of , the second most populated state (after New South Wales) with a population of over 6.5 million, and the most densely populated state in ...
, member of the
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council (VLC) is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Victoria, Australia, the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit at Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative C ...
.
Early life
à Beckett was born in London, England, son of William à Beckett (senior) and his wife Sarah, ''née'' Abbott. Thomas junior was brother of Sir
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 ...
and
Gilbert Abbott à Beckett
Gilbert Abbott à Beckett (9 January 1811 – 30 August 1856) was an English humorist. Biography
He was born in London, the son of a lawyer, and belonged to a family claiming descent from Thomas Becket. He was educated at Westminster School an ...
. Thomas was educated at
Westminster School
(God Gives the Increase)
, established = Earliest records date from the 14th century, refounded in 1560
, type = Public school Independent day and boarding school
, religion = Church of England
, head_label = Hea ...
. In 1829 he joined his father in practice as a solicitor. Before leaving London, Thomas a'Beckett published "''Remarks on the Present State of the Law of Debtor and Creditor''", 1844; "''Railway Litigation, and How to Check It''", 1846; "''Law-reforming Difficulties: a Letter to Lord Brougham''", 1849.
Career in Australia
à Beckett migrated to
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 ...
, Australia, in 1850 and was called to the
Victorian Bar
The Victorian Bar is the bar association of the Australian State of Victoria. The current President of the Bar is Roisin Annesley KC. Its members are barristers registered to practice in Victoria. On 30 June 2020, there were 2,179 counsels ...
a year later. From 14 July 1852 to March 1856 he was a nominee member of the unicameral Victorian Legislative Council, replacing James Ross. In October 1858 à Beckett was elected to the Central Province of the new Council (since 1856 the upper house of the Victorian parliament). This was a seat he held until August 1878.
à Beckett was in office twice when he was a Minister without portfolio from 1860 to 1861 and the Commissioner for Trade and Customs 1870 until 1871. In 1870 he was chairman of the Royal Commission on the civil service. Between 1854 and 1887 Beckett was the Registrar of the
Anglican Diocese of Melbourne
The Anglican Diocese of Melbourne is the metropolitan diocese of the Province of Victoria in the Anglican Church of Australia. The diocese was founded from the Diocese of Australia by letters patent of 25 June 1847University Council and he became the trustee of the Public Library.
Publications
à Beckett published "''A Comparative View of Court Fees and Attorneys' Charges''", 1854; "''A Defence of State Aid to Religion''", 1856; "''State Aid Question—Strictures on Pamphlets of Dr. Cairns''", 1856. Mr. a'Beckett from time to time delivered lectures at the Industrial and Technological Museum, Melbourne. Several of these, including "Painting and Painters," have been published.
Late life
à Beckett retired from the Legislative Council in August 1878 and from all public duties in 1887, at the age of 79 years. He died in
Brighton, Victoria
Brighton is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 11 km south-east of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Bayside local government area. Brighton recorded a population of 23,252 at the 2021 census.
...
, on 1 July 1892. His eldest son,
Thomas à Beckett
Sir Thomas à Beckett (31 August 1836 – 21 June 1919) was an Australian solicitor and judge.
Personal
Thomas à Beckett was born in London, England. He was the eldest son of Thomas Turner à Beckett
and arrived in Australia with his fathe ...