Frederick Innes
Encyclopedia
Frederick Maitland Innes (11 August 1816 – 11 May 1882) was Premier of Tasmania from 4 November 1872 to 4 August 1873.
The son of Francis Innes, army officer, and his wife Prudence, née Edgerleyan, Innes was born in Edinburgh
, Scotland
. Innes was educated at Heriot's, Edinburgh, and Kelso Grammar School
in Kelso. On leaving school he was employed by his uncle, manager of estates for his relation, the Duke of Roxburghe
. In 1836, Innes emigrated to Tasmania
where he arrived in Hobart in 1837, joining the Hobart Town Courier. A few years later he returned to Great Britain
, and contributed to the press in London, and to the Penny Cyclopaedia
.
Innes again went to Tasmania in 1843 and was associated with the Observer and other papers at Hobart
. In about the year 1846 he was working as a journalist at Launceston
and later took up farming. With the introduction of responsible government he was elected in September 1856 as the member for Morven
in the Tasmanian House of Assembly
. He was colonial treasurer in four successive ministries, the first William Weston, the Francis Smith
, the second Weston, and the Thomas Chapman, from 25 April 1857 to 1 November 1862, and colonial secretary
from 1 November 1862 to 20 January 1863. He had now become a member of the Tasmanian Legislative Council
, in 1864 was elected chairman of committees, and from 1868 to 1872 president of the council. He then resigned his seat and re-entered the house of assembly.
On 4 November 1872, allying himself with some members he had previously opposed, Innes became premier and colonial secretary until 4 August 1873, when the Alfred Kennerley
ministry came in and Innes found himself isolated. In March 1875 rather to the surprise of his former friends he joined this ministry as colonial treasurer, and held this position until July 1876. He then retired from the house of assembly, was elected to the legislative council in September 1877, and in 1880 was again made president of the council. He died at Launceston on 11 May 1882. In 1838, he married a Miss Sarah Elizabeth (‘Lysbeth’) Grey—the daughter of free settlers—who survived him with sons and daughters.
Innes, an able man of moderate views, was an excellent treasurer. When he first took office the finances of the colony were in a very serious condition, and he carried a heavy burden during his five and a half years of office.
The son of Francis Innes, army officer, and his wife Prudence, née Edgerleyan, Innes was born in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Innes was educated at Heriot's, Edinburgh, and Kelso Grammar School
Kelso High School (Scotland)
Kelso High School is a secondary school in Kelso, Scotland, under the control of the Scottish Borders Council. It is one of nine secondary schools in the Scottish Borders and the only one in Kelso. Pupils come to Kelso High School from the town of Kelso, the villages of Ednam, Eckford, Heiton,...
in Kelso. On leaving school he was employed by his uncle, manager of estates for his relation, the Duke of Roxburghe
Duke of Roxburghe
The Duke of Roxburghe is a title in the peerage of Scotland created in 1707 along with the titles Marquess of Bowmont and Cessford, Earl of Kelso and Viscount Broxmouth. John Ker, 5th Earl of Roxburghe became the first holder of these titles...
. In 1836, Innes emigrated to 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...
where he arrived in Hobart in 1837, joining the Hobart Town Courier. A few years later he returned to Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, and contributed to the press in London, and to the Penny Cyclopaedia
Penny Cyclopaedia
The Penny Cyclopædia of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge was a multi-volume encyclopedia edited by George Long and published by Charles Knight alongside the Penny Magazine. The volumes were published from 1833 to 1843.-External links:...
.
Innes again went to Tasmania in 1843 and was associated with the Observer and other papers at Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
. In about the year 1846 he was working as a journalist at Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
and later took up farming. With the introduction of responsible government he was elected in September 1856 as the member for Morven
Electoral district of Morven
The Electoral district of Morven was a single-member electoral district of the Tasmanian House of Assembly. It was based around the town of Evandale to the south of Launceston....
in 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...
. He was colonial treasurer in four successive ministries, the first William Weston, the Francis Smith
Francis Smith (Australian politician)
Sir Francis Villeneuve Smith was a British lawyer, judge and politician, who was the fourth Premier of Tasmania from 12 May 1857 until 1 November 1860....
, the second Weston, and the Thomas Chapman, from 25 April 1857 to 1 November 1862, and colonial secretary
Colonial Secretary of Tasmania
The Colonial Secretary of Van Diemen's Land was the representative of the British Colonial Office in Van Diemen's Land , and was usually appointed from Britain....
from 1 November 1862 to 20 January 1863. He had now become 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...
, in 1864 was elected chairman of committees, and from 1868 to 1872 president of the council. He then resigned his seat and re-entered the house of assembly.
On 4 November 1872, allying himself with some members he had previously opposed, Innes became premier and colonial secretary until 4 August 1873, when the Alfred Kennerley
Alfred Kennerley
Alfred Kennerley was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 4 August 1873 until 20 July 1876.Kennerley was born in Islington. He was a man of means who came from England to Australia when young and settled in New South Wales. He removed to Hobart, became an alderman about 1860, and...
ministry came in and Innes found himself isolated. In March 1875 rather to the surprise of his former friends he joined this ministry as colonial treasurer, and held this position until July 1876. He then retired from the house of assembly, was elected to the legislative council in September 1877, and in 1880 was again made president of the council. He died at Launceston on 11 May 1882. In 1838, he married a Miss Sarah Elizabeth (‘Lysbeth’) Grey—the daughter of free settlers—who survived him with sons and daughters.
Innes, an able man of moderate views, was an excellent treasurer. When he first took office the finances of the colony were in a very serious condition, and he carried a heavy burden during his five and a half years of office.