George Wigram Allen
Encyclopedia
Sir George Wigram Allen KCMG
(16 May 1824 – 23 July 1885) was an Australia
n politician
and philanthropist
. He was Speaker
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
1875–1883.
Allen was born in Surry Hills, New South Wales
, the eldest son of George Allen
(attorney and solicitor) and his wife Jane, née Bowden. Allen was educated under William Cape and at Sydney College
, where he showed ability in classics and mathematics. In 1841 was articled to his father and became a solicitor in 1846. The following year Allen entered a partnership with his father as a solicitor. In 1859 Allen became the first mayor of Glebe, New South Wales
, a position he held until 1877.
Allen was appointed a commissioner of national education in 1853 and held the position until 1867. He was nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council
in 1860 and remained there until May 1861. In 1869 Allen was elected a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
for Glebe
, and from December 1873 to February 1875 was minister for justice and public instruction in the first Henry Parkes
ministry. In the following March he was elected speaker and remained in that position until January 1883.
Allen was a director of many public companies including the Bank of New South Wales. Allen retired from politics in August 1883 and died suddenly on 23 July 1885. Allen had married Marian, eldest daughter of the Rev. William Boyce
, who survived him with four daughters and six sons. He was knighted in 1877 and created K.C.M.G.
in 1883.
Allen was held in high esteem. As speaker he showed dignity, courtesy and ability; it was said of him: 'A man of calm judgment and much practical wisdom'.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(16 May 1824 – 23 July 1885) was an 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 politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
and philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
. He was Speaker
Speaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
1875–1883.
Allen was born in Surry Hills, New South Wales
Surry Hills, New South Wales
Surry Hills is an inner-city suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Surry Hills is located immediately south-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Sydney...
, the eldest son of George Allen
George Allen (Australian politician)
Hon. George Allen, MLC was an Australian colonial attorney and politician in New South Wales.Allen was the son of Dr. Richard Allen, physician to George III, and was born in London in November 1800. He arrived in New South Wales in January 1816, and was the first attorney and solicitor admitted by...
(attorney and solicitor) and his wife Jane, née Bowden. Allen was educated under William Cape and at Sydney College
Sydney College
Sydney College can refer to more than one establishment:*Sydney College, Bath, a former prominent independent boys school in Somerset, England, now housing the Holburne Museum of Art*Sydney Grammar School, a grammar school in Sydney, New South Wales...
, where he showed ability in classics and mathematics. In 1841 was articled to his father and became a solicitor in 1846. The following year Allen entered a partnership with his father as a solicitor. In 1859 Allen became the first mayor of Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe, New South Wales
Glebe is an inner-city suburb of Sydney. Glebe is located 3 km south-west of the Sydney central business district and is part of the local government area of the City of Sydney, in the Inner West region....
, a position he held until 1877.
Allen was appointed a commissioner of national education in 1853 and held the position until 1867. He was nominated to the New South Wales Legislative Council
New South Wales Legislative Council
The New South Wales Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the parliament of New South Wales in Australia. The other is the Legislative Assembly. Both sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney. The Assembly is referred to as the lower house and the Council as...
in 1860 and remained there until May 1861. In 1869 Allen was elected a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
for Glebe
Electoral district of Glebe
Glebe was an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, originally created in 1859, partly replacing Sydney Hamlets, and named after and including the Sydney suburb of Glebe. It elected one member from 1859 to 1885 and two members from 1885 to 1894....
, and from December 1873 to February 1875 was minister for justice and public instruction in the first Henry Parkes
Henry Parkes
Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was an Australian statesman, the "Father of Federation." As the earliest advocate of a Federal Council of the colonies of Australia, a precursor to the Federation of Australia, he was the most prominent of the Australian Founding Fathers.Parkes was described during his...
ministry. In the following March he was elected speaker and remained in that position until January 1883.
Allen was a director of many public companies including the Bank of New South Wales. Allen retired from politics in August 1883 and died suddenly on 23 July 1885. Allen had married Marian, eldest daughter of the Rev. William Boyce
William Binnington Boyce
William Binnington Boyce was an English-born philologist and clergyman, active in Australia.-Early life:Boyce was born at Beverley, Yorkshire, England, is mother's family were Wesleyans. Boyce studied commerce at Kingston upon Hull...
, who survived him with four daughters and six sons. He was knighted in 1877 and created K.C.M.G.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
in 1883.
Allen was held in high esteem. As speaker he showed dignity, courtesy and ability; it was said of him: 'A man of calm judgment and much practical wisdom'.