Francis Smith (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith (13 February 1819 – 17 January 1909) was a British
lawyer, judge and politician, who was the fourth Premier of Tasmania from 12 May 1857 until 1 November 1860.
Smith was born in Lindfield
in the English
county of Sussex
, the eldest son of London merchant Francis Smith and Marie Josephine Villeneuve. Smith would acknowledge his mother's ancestry from French naval admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
by adopting her surname in 1861. The Smith family emigrated to the Australia
n colony of Van Diemen'sLand (later called Tasmania
) in 1826, settling in Campania
near Richmond
. Smith, however, returned to England to further his education, studying law at Middle Temple
and arts at University College London
. He was admitted to the Bar
on 27 May 1842.
In 1851 he became a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
and soon after became Attorney-General. He was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly
in 1856. He was Attorney General in William Champ
's first ministry from 1 November 1856 until 26 February 1857. When William Weston's ministry (1857) collapsed he proceeded to form his own with himself as Premier
and Attorney General
, he held office for three years until 1860 becoming the first Premier of Tasmania to hold office for more than one year.
He represented the now-defunct electorate of Fingal
. He was also Chief justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
. Smith was knighted
in 1862.
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...
lawyer, judge and politician, who was the fourth Premier of Tasmania from 12 May 1857 until 1 November 1860.
Smith was born in Lindfield
Lindfield, West Sussex
Lindfield is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. The parish lies to the north-east of Haywards Heath, of which the village is a part of the built-up area. It stands on the upper reaches of the River Ouse...
in the English
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...
county of Sussex
Sussex
Sussex , from the Old English Sūþsēaxe , is an historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West...
, the eldest son of London merchant Francis Smith and Marie Josephine Villeneuve. Smith would acknowledge his mother's ancestry from French naval admiral Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
Pierre-Charles Villeneuve
Pierre-Charles-Jean-Baptiste-Silvestre de Villeneuve was a French naval officer during the Napoleonic Wars. He was in command of the French and Spanish fleets defeated by Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar....
by adopting her surname in 1861. The Smith family emigrated to the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n colony of Van Diemen'sLand (later called Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) in 1826, settling in Campania
Campania, Tasmania
Campania is a township located in Tasmania's Coal River Valley. It is located in the Southern Midlands Council.It is one of the most important wine-producing regions of Tasmania, and has had commercial vineyards since the mid-19th century.-History:...
near Richmond
Richmond, Tasmania
Richmond is a town in Tasmania about 25 km north-east of Hobart, in the Coal River region, between the Midland Highway and Tasman Highway. At the 2006 census, Richmond had a population of 880....
. Smith, however, returned to England to further his education, studying law at Middle Temple
Middle Temple
The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known 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 and Lincoln's Inn...
and arts at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
. He was admitted to the Bar
Bar council
A bar council , in a Commonwealth country and in the Republic of Ireland, the Bar Council of Ireland is a professional body that regulates the profession of barristers together with the King's Inns. Solicitors are generally regulated by the Law society....
on 27 May 1842.
In 1851 he became a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
and soon after became Attorney-General. He was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly
Tasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
in 1856. He was Attorney General in William Champ
William Champ
William Thomas Napier Champ was a soldier and politician who became the first Premier of Tasmania.-Early life:...
's first ministry from 1 November 1856 until 26 February 1857. When William Weston's ministry (1857) collapsed he proceeded to form his own with himself as Premier
Premier
Premier is a title for the head of government in some countries and states.-Examples by country:In many nations, "premier" is used interchangeably with "prime minister"...
and Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
, he held office for three years until 1860 becoming the first Premier of Tasmania to hold office for more than one year.
He represented the now-defunct electorate of Fingal
Fingal, Tasmania
Fingal is a small Australian town located in Fingal Valley in the north-east of Tasmania, on the Esk Highway.-History:The Fingal area was surveyed in 1824 by Roderic O'Connor and John Helder Wedge, and is believed to have been named after Fingal's Cave in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland rather than...
. He was also Chief justice of the Supreme Court of Tasmania
Supreme Court of Tasmania
The Supreme Court of Tasmania is the highest State court in the Australian State of Tasmania. In the Australian court hierarchy, the Supreme Court of Tasmania is in the middle level, and is able to both receive appeals from lower courts, and able to be appealed from.The ordinary sittings of the...
. Smith 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 1862.