Charles Lilley
Encyclopedia
Sir Charles Lilley was a Premier and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland
. He had a significant influence on the form and spirit of state education in colonial Queensland
which lasted well into the twentieth century.
Lilley was born at Newcastle on Tyne, England, the son of Thomas Lilley and his wife Jane, née Shipley. Lilley was raised by his maternal grandfather and was educated at St Nicholas Parish School. Intending to study law, Lilley became articled to Newcastle solicitor, William Lockey Harle. Lilley was sent to the London office and studied at University College, London for two years. He gave this up, enlisted in the army and, while stationed at Preston, lectured on temperance
and industry. This brought him into disfavour with his superior officers. Lilley spent 28 days in cells on a charge of being absence without leave. Friends purchased his honourable discharge. He remained at Preston and worked on the committee that established the Preston Free Library.
Lilley arrived at Sydney
on 6 July 1856. Soon afterwards he travelled to Brisbane
, joined the Crown Solicitor's Office, and finished his law degree. Thereafter, he took up journalism, acquired an interest in the Moreton Bay Courier (later the Brisbane Courier), and for two years was its editor. He was prominent in the movement for separation from New South Wales
. After Queensland
separated, Lilley was elected to that state's first Legislative Assembly
by a majority of only three votes. Lilley held his seat for the remainder of his parliamentary career.
Lilley was called to the bar in 1861. In September 1865 he succeeded John Bramston as Attorney-General in the first Herbert
ministry, and held the same position in the Macalister
ministry which succeeded it. On 7 August 1866 he was again appointed Attorney-General for a second term before the ministry was defeated in August 1867. On 25 November 1868 Lilley became Premier of Queensland and served concurrently as Attorney-General, and then Colonial Secretary, for part of his premiership. His most important work as Premier was the introduction of free education in January 1870. Queensland was the first of the Australian colonies to adopt this principle.
As a protest against the monopoly of the A.S.N. Company Lilley ordered three vessels to be constructed for the Queensland government at Sydney
. One, the ship Governor Blackall, was built, and as a result the A.S.N. Company reduced its charges. Lilley, however, had acted without reference to his colleagues was censured by all but one of his followers. In May 1870 his party was defeated at the polls, the Palmer
ministry succeeding Lilley's government. He was elected leader of the opposition. In January 1874, Macalister carried a vote of no confidence in the Government, and offered to stand aside so that Lilley could become Premier. He declined office of any kind, but shortly afterwards accepted the position of acting judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland
. He became a puisne judge on 4 July 1874; on 24 June 1879, he succeeded Sir James Cockle as Chief Justice, a position he held until 13 March 1893.
Lilley's strong interest in education was a significant factor in the establishment of Brisbane Grammar School
where the Lilley Gold Medal and the Lilley Silver Medal are named in his honour. The Lilley Center, opened in 2010 is also named after him. In 1891 he was chairman of a commission investigating the establishment of a university in Brisbane
. In 1893, Lilley resigned his position as Chief Justice after Sir Thomas McIlwraith questioned publicly some of Lilley's financial transactions, and stood unsuccessfully against McIlwraith in the electorate of Brisbane North.
Lilley had a severe illness in 1896 and died in 1897. He was knighted
in 1881.
The Federal electorate of Lilley
is named after him.
There is a statue
of Sir Charles Lilley at the Speakers' Corner in King George Square
in Brisbane
.
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...
. He had a significant influence on the form and spirit of state education in colonial Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
which lasted well into the twentieth century.
Lilley was born at Newcastle on Tyne, England, the son of Thomas Lilley and his wife Jane, née Shipley. Lilley was raised by his maternal grandfather and was educated at St Nicholas Parish School. Intending to study law, Lilley became articled to Newcastle solicitor, William Lockey Harle. Lilley was sent to the London office and studied at University College, London for two years. He gave this up, enlisted in the army and, while stationed at Preston, lectured on temperance
Temperance movement
A temperance movement is a social movement urging reduced use of alcoholic beverages. Temperance movements may criticize excessive alcohol use, promote complete abstinence , or pressure the government to enact anti-alcohol legislation or complete prohibition of alcohol.-Temperance movement by...
and industry. This brought him into disfavour with his superior officers. Lilley spent 28 days in cells on a charge of being absence without leave. Friends purchased his honourable discharge. He remained at Preston and worked on the committee that established the Preston Free Library.
Lilley arrived at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
on 6 July 1856. Soon afterwards he travelled to Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
, joined the Crown Solicitor's Office, and finished his law degree. Thereafter, he took up journalism, acquired an interest in the Moreton Bay Courier (later the Brisbane Courier), and for two years was its editor. He was prominent in the movement for separation from New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
. After Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
separated, Lilley was elected to that state's first Legislative Assembly
Queensland Legislative Assembly
The Queensland Legislative Assembly is the unicameral chamber of the Parliament of Queensland. Elections are held approximately once every three years. Voting is by the Optional Preferential Voting form of the Alternative Vote system...
by a majority of only three votes. Lilley held his seat for the remainder of his parliamentary career.
Lilley was called to the bar in 1861. In September 1865 he succeeded John Bramston as Attorney-General in the first Herbert
Robert Herbert
Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert, GCB , was the first Premier of Queensland, Australia.-Early years:Born in Brighton, England, Herbert was the only son of the Hon. Algernon Herbert, a younger son of the first Earl of Carnarvon. He was educated at Eton and Balliol College, Oxford...
ministry, and held the same position in the Macalister
Arthur Macalister
Arthur Macalister, CMG was three times Premier of Queensland, Australia.-Early life:Macalister was born in Glasgow, Scotland, son of John Macalister, a cabinet maker, and his wife Mary, née Scoullar. Macalister was educated in Glasgow and emigrated to Australia with his wife Elizabeth Wallace née...
ministry which succeeded it. On 7 August 1866 he was again appointed Attorney-General for a second term before the ministry was defeated in August 1867. On 25 November 1868 Lilley became Premier of Queensland and served concurrently as Attorney-General, and then Colonial Secretary, for part of his premiership. His most important work as Premier was the introduction of free education in January 1870. Queensland was the first of the Australian colonies to adopt this principle.
As a protest against the monopoly of the A.S.N. Company Lilley ordered three vessels to be constructed for the Queensland government at Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
. One, the ship Governor Blackall, was built, and as a result the A.S.N. Company reduced its charges. Lilley, however, had acted without reference to his colleagues was censured by all but one of his followers. In May 1870 his party was defeated at the polls, the Palmer
Arthur Hunter Palmer
Sir Arthur Hunter Palmer KCMG was an Irish-Australian politician and a Premier of Queensland.Palmer was born in Armagh, Ireland, the son of Lieutenant Arthur Palmer, R.N., and his wife, Emily née Hunter. Palmer was educated at Youghal Grammar School and a private tutor in Dublin...
ministry succeeding Lilley's government. He was elected leader of the opposition. In January 1874, Macalister carried a vote of no confidence in the Government, and offered to stand aside so that Lilley could become Premier. He declined office of any kind, but shortly afterwards accepted the position of acting judge of the Supreme Court of Queensland
Supreme Court of Queensland
The Supreme Court of Queensland, which is based at the Law Courts Complex, is the superior court for the Australian State of Queensland and sits around the middle of the Australian court hierarchy...
. He became a puisne judge on 4 July 1874; on 24 June 1879, he succeeded Sir James Cockle as Chief Justice, a position he held until 13 March 1893.
Lilley's strong interest in education was a significant factor in the establishment of Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School
Brisbane Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, day and boarding school for boys, located in Spring Hill, an inner suburb of Brisbane, Queensland, Australia...
where the Lilley Gold Medal and the Lilley Silver Medal are named in his honour. The Lilley Center, opened in 2010 is also named after him. In 1891 he was chairman of a commission investigating the establishment of a university in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
. In 1893, Lilley resigned his position as Chief Justice after Sir Thomas McIlwraith questioned publicly some of Lilley's financial transactions, and stood unsuccessfully against McIlwraith in the electorate of Brisbane North.
Lilley had a severe illness in 1896 and died in 1897. He was knighted
Knight Bachelor
The rank of Knight Bachelor is a part of the British honours system. It is the most basic rank of a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not as a member of one of the organised Orders of Chivalry...
in 1881.
The Federal electorate of Lilley
Division of Lilley
The Division of Lilley is an Australian Electoral Division in Queensland. The division was first proclaimed in 1913. The division is named after Sir Charles Lilley, a former Premier of Queensland and a former Chief Justice in the Supreme Court of Queensland....
is named after him.
There is a statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of Sir Charles Lilley at the Speakers' Corner in King George Square
King George Square, Brisbane
King George Square is a public square, located between Adelaide Street and Ann Street , in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. Adjacent to King George Square is Brisbane City Hall...
in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
.
Family
Lilley married Sarah Jane Jeays in 1858 and was survived by a large family including:- Edwyn Mitford (1859 - 1911)
- Charles Bedell (1860 - 1918)
- Annie Mary (1862 - ?)
- Walter Preston (1863 - 1916)
- Harold Bedell (1864 - 1901)
- Arthur Shipley (1866 - 1948)
- Thomas Lilley (1995-present)