Alf Morgans
Encyclopedia
Alfred Edward Morgans was Premier of Western Australia
for just 32 days, from 21 November to 23 December 1901.
, Machen
, Monmouthshire
in the United Kingdom
on 17 February 1850. He was educated at private schools and at the Welsh School of Mines, and later was apprenticed to a mechanical engineering firm at Ebbw Vale
.
On 19 March 1872, he married Fanny Ridler at Gloucester
in England
. In 1878, Morgans' employers sent him to Mexico
to supervise their gold and silver mines. He worked in Central America
18 years, during which time he learned to speak Spanish
fluently, and developed an interest in Mexico's natural and archaeological history. He unearthed a number of Aztec
pieces, some of which he donated to the British Museum
.
Morgans moved to Western Australia
in 1896 as a representative of Morgans' Syndicate Ltd, to inspect mining properties for London
capitalists looking for sound investment opportunities. He acquired numerous properties and mining interests throughout the state, including Westralia Mount Morgans
, and he was widely considered an authority on mining investment.
seat of Coolgardie
.
In parliament, he was a supporter of Premier Sir John Forrest
. After Forrest resigned from state politics, the former supporters of Forrest continued to work together, and were known as ministerialists. In November 1901, the ministerialists defeated Premier George Leake
on a no-confidence vote, and he was compelled to resign. However, they were initially unable to agree on a nominee for premier, and when the governor invited Frederick Henry Piesse
to form a government, he could not secure enough support.
The ministerialists eventually agreed on Morgans as a compromise candidate, and he took office as premier and colonial treasurer on 21 November 1901, despite having never previous held any ministerial office.
But in the subsequent ministerial by-election
1, supporters of Leake stood against Morgans' newly appointed cabinet, and three of the six new ministers were defeated. Morgans then asked Governor Lawley
for a dissolution of the Assembly, but this was refused. He resigned as premier on 23 December 1901, and Leake took office again, this time with much clearer support. Morgans did not re-nominate at the subsequent election.
. From 1918 to 1920 he was a member of the North Fremantle
Municipal Council. From 1918 to 1920 he was also acting Consular Agent for the United States of America, after which he was Consular Agent for the United States until 1930.
He died on 10 August 1933 at South Perth in Western Australia.
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
for just 32 days, from 21 November to 23 December 1901.
Early life and career
Alf Morgans was born at Ochr Churith Machen LowerLower Machen
Lower Machen is small hamlet of 19 houses on the A468 road at the very western edge of the city of Newport, South Wales.Machen itself lies further west in the county borough of Caerphilly, although both lie within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire....
, Machen
Machen
Machen is a large village 3 miles east of Caerphilly, south Wales, situated in the Caerphilly borough within the historic boundaries of Monmouthshire. It neighbours Bedwas and Trethomas, and forms a council ward in conjunction with those communities. It lies on the Rhymney River.-Mynydd...
, Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire (historic)
Monmouthshire , also known as the County of Monmouth , is one of thirteen ancient counties of Wales and a former administrative county....
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 17 February 1850. He was educated at private schools and at the Welsh School of Mines, and later was apprenticed to a mechanical engineering firm at Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale
Ebbw Vale is a town at the head of the valley formed by the Ebbw Fawr tributary of the Ebbw River, south Wales. It is the largest town and the administrative centre of Blaenau Gwent county borough...
.
On 19 March 1872, he married Fanny Ridler at Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1878, Morgans' employers sent him to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to supervise their gold and silver mines. He worked in Central America
Central America
Central America is the central geographic region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmian portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast. When considered part of the unified continental model, it is considered a subcontinent...
18 years, during which time he learned to speak Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
fluently, and developed an interest in Mexico's natural and archaeological history. He unearthed a number of Aztec
Aztec
The Aztec people were certain ethnic groups of central Mexico, particularly those groups who spoke the Nahuatl language and who dominated large parts of Mesoamerica in the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, a period referred to as the late post-classic period in Mesoamerican chronology.Aztec is the...
pieces, some of which he donated to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
.
Morgans moved to Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
in 1896 as a representative of Morgans' Syndicate Ltd, to inspect mining properties for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
capitalists looking for sound investment opportunities. He acquired numerous properties and mining interests throughout the state, including Westralia Mount Morgans
Mount Morgans Gold Mine
The Mount Morgans Gold Mine is a gold mine located 37 km west-south-west of Laverton, Western Australia.It is operated by Range River Gold, who purchased the mine from Barrick Gold in May 2009...
, and he was widely considered an authority on mining investment.
Political career
On 4 May 1897, Morgans was elected to the Legislative AssemblyWestern Australian Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of parliament in the Australian state of Western Australia. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Perth....
seat of Coolgardie
Electoral district of Coolgardie
Coolgardie was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of Western Australia from 1897 to 1930.The district was located in the Goldfields region, and was based in the town of Coolgardie. Its first member was Alf Morgans who served briefly as Premier of Western...
.
In parliament, he was a supporter of Premier Sir John Forrest
John Forrest
Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament....
. After Forrest resigned from state politics, the former supporters of Forrest continued to work together, and were known as ministerialists. In November 1901, the ministerialists defeated Premier George Leake
George Leake
George Leake CMG QC was Premier of Western Australia from 27 May 1901 to 21 November 1901, and again from 23 December 1901 until his death on 24 June 1902.-Early life:...
on a no-confidence vote, and he was compelled to resign. However, they were initially unable to agree on a nominee for premier, and when the governor invited Frederick Henry Piesse
Frederick Henry Piesse
Frederick Henry Piesse, CMG was a farmer, businessman and politician who is credited with much of the early development of the region around Katanning, Western Australia....
to form a government, he could not secure enough support.
The ministerialists eventually agreed on Morgans as a compromise candidate, and he took office as premier and colonial treasurer on 21 November 1901, despite having never previous held any ministerial office.
But in the subsequent ministerial by-election
By-election
A by-election is an election held to fill a political office that has become vacant between regularly scheduled elections....
1, supporters of Leake stood against Morgans' newly appointed cabinet, and three of the six new ministers were defeated. Morgans then asked Governor Lawley
Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock
Arthur Lawley, 6th Baron Wenlock, GCIE, KCMG was a British politician, soldier and administrator who served as the administrator of Matabeleland, Governor of Western Australia, Lieutenant-Governor of Transvaal and Governor of Madras.Lawley was born in 1860 to 2nd Baron Wenlock and his wife, Lady...
for a dissolution of the Assembly, but this was refused. He resigned as premier on 23 December 1901, and Leake took office again, this time with much clearer support. Morgans did not re-nominate at the subsequent election.
Diplomatic career
Alf Morgans' life after politics consisted of a number of consular-diplomatic appointments in Western Australia. From 1910 to 1917, he was Austro-Hungarian Consul for Western Australia; in 1915 he was also Vice-Consul for SpainSpain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. From 1918 to 1920 he was a member of the North Fremantle
North Fremantle, Western Australia
North Fremantle is a small suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located within the City of Fremantle. Its postcode is 6159.The suburb is situated on the Swan River, north of the Port of Fremantle...
Municipal Council. From 1918 to 1920 he was also acting Consular Agent for the United States of America, after which he was Consular Agent for the United States until 1930.
He died on 10 August 1933 at South Perth in Western Australia.