Bryan O'Loghlen
Encyclopedia
Sir Bryan O'Loghlen, 3rd Baronet (27 June 1828–31 October 1905), Australian colonial politician, was the 13th Premier of Victoria.
, Ireland
, a son of the distinguished Irish judge Sir Michael O'Loghlen, 1st Baronet, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
and was admitted to the Irish Bar in 1856.
In 1862 he emigrated to Victoria
and was appointed a Crown Prosecutor in 1863. He succeeded to his father's baronet
cy in 1877 on the death of his brother, Colman
, and in the same year he was elected, in absentia, to the House of Commons
for County Clare
, replacing his brother, but did not take his seat.
In 1878 O'Loghlen, a recognised leader of the Irish Catholic community in Victoria, was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
for West Melbourne
. In 1880 he transferred to West Bourke, which he held until 1883.
O'Loghlen was a radical liberal in Victorian politics: he favoured breaking up the estates of the landowning class (who were mainly English and Scottish Protestants) to provide land for small farmers, and ending the power of the landowner-dominated Victorian Legislative Council
.
He also wanted government aid for Roman Catholic schools, but not if this meant government supervision of what they taught. He served as Attorney-General in the reforming ministry of Graham Berry
from 1878 to 1880, and was a loyal supporter of Berry in his struggles with the Council and the conservatives it represented.
When Berry's third government resigned in July 1881, O'Loghlen succeeded him as leader of the liberal forces and became Premier - the second Irish Catholic to hold the position. His government was described as "unspectacular", and "a collection of party rebels, Catholics and opportunists." Much of the radical impetus of the Berry years had passed and O'Loghlen's government achieved little. In 1883 a scandal arose over the activities of Railways Minister Thomas Bent
, who was accused of corruption. At the March 1883 election the liberals were defeated and O'Loghlen lost his seat.
In 1888 O'Loghlen returned to politics as member for Belfast, which he held until 1889, when the seat was renamed Port Fairy
, which he represented 1889 - 1894, and, again, from 1897 - 1900. He was Attorney-General again, albeit only for one year, in the Patterson
government (1893 - 1894).
He died aged 77 in 1905.
Biography
O'Loghlen was born in County ClareCounty Clare
-History:There was a Neolithic civilisation in the Clare area — the name of the peoples is unknown, but the Prehistoric peoples left evidence behind in the form of ancient dolmen; single-chamber megalithic tombs, usually consisting of three or more upright stones...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, a son of the distinguished Irish judge Sir Michael O'Loghlen, 1st Baronet, and was educated at Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
and was admitted to the Irish Bar in 1856.
In 1862 he emigrated to Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
and was appointed a Crown Prosecutor in 1863. He succeeded to his father's baronet
Baronet
A baronet or the rare female equivalent, a baronetess , is the holder of a hereditary baronetcy awarded by the British Crown...
cy in 1877 on the death of his brother, Colman
Sir Colman O'Loghlen, 2nd Baronet
Sir Colman O'Loghlen, 2nd Baronet was an Irish baronet and politician.O'Loghlen was born in County Clare, Ireland, a son of the distinguished Irish judge Sir Michael O'Loghlen, 1st Baronet....
, and in the same year he was elected, in absentia, to the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
for County Clare
Clare (UK Parliament constituency)
Clare was a parliamentary constituency in Ireland, represented in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1801 to 1885 it returned two Member of Parliament to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland....
, replacing his brother, but did not take his seat.
In 1878 O'Loghlen, a recognised leader of the Irish Catholic community in Victoria, was elected to the Victorian Legislative Assembly
Victorian Legislative Assembly
The Victorian Legislative Assembly is the lower house of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia. Together with the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house, it sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Melbourne.-History:...
for West Melbourne
West Melbourne, Victoria
West Melbourne is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km north-west from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
. In 1880 he transferred to West Bourke, which he held until 1883.
O'Loghlen was a radical liberal in Victorian politics: he favoured breaking up the estates of the landowning class (who were mainly English and Scottish Protestants) to provide land for small farmers, and ending the power of the landowner-dominated Victorian Legislative Council
Victorian Legislative Council
The Victorian Legislative Council, is the upper of the two houses of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia; the lower house being the Legislative Assembly. Both houses sit in Parliament House in Spring Street, Melbourne. The Legislative Council serves as a house of review, in a similar fashion to...
.
He also wanted government aid for Roman Catholic schools, but not if this meant government supervision of what they taught. He served as Attorney-General in the reforming ministry of Graham Berry
Graham Berry
Sir Graham Berry KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 11th Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most Radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most determined efforts to break the power of the Victorian Legislative Council, the stronghold of the...
from 1878 to 1880, and was a loyal supporter of Berry in his struggles with the Council and the conservatives it represented.
When Berry's third government resigned in July 1881, O'Loghlen succeeded him as leader of the liberal forces and became Premier - the second Irish Catholic to hold the position. His government was described as "unspectacular", and "a collection of party rebels, Catholics and opportunists." Much of the radical impetus of the Berry years had passed and O'Loghlen's government achieved little. In 1883 a scandal arose over the activities of Railways Minister Thomas Bent
Thomas Bent
Sir Thomas Bent KCMG , Australian politician, was the 22nd Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most colourful and corrupt politicians in Victorian history....
, who was accused of corruption. At the March 1883 election the liberals were defeated and O'Loghlen lost his seat.
In 1888 O'Loghlen returned to politics as member for Belfast, which he held until 1889, when the seat was renamed Port Fairy
Port Fairy, Victoria
Port Fairy is a coastal town in south-western Victoria, Australia. It lies on the Princes Highway in the Shire of Moyne, west of Warrnambool and 290 km west of Melbourne, at the point where the Moyne River enters the Southern Ocean.-History:...
, which he represented 1889 - 1894, and, again, from 1897 - 1900. He was Attorney-General again, albeit only for one year, in the Patterson
James Patterson (Australian politician)
Sir James Brown Patterson, KCMG , Australian colonial politician, was the 17th Premier of Victoria.Patterson was born in Alnwick, Northumberland, and emigrated to Victoria in 1852 to seek his fortune on the goldfields...
government (1893 - 1894).
He died aged 77 in 1905.