James Frederick Palmer
Encyclopedia
Sir James Frederick Palmer (7 June 1803 – 23 April 1871) was a medical practitioner, Victoria
n pioneer, first President of the Victorian Legislative Council
and former Mayor of Melbourne.
, Devon
shire, England
, the fourth son of the Rev. John Palmer (a nephew of Sir Joshua Reynolds),and his wife Jane, a daughter of William Johnson.
Palmer was trained in medicine, practised in London
, and was surgeon at St Thomas's hospital. In 1824 Palmer became a house surgeon at St George's Hospital (M.A.C.S., 1826). In 1835-37, Palmer edited a four-volume edition, Works of John Hunter
, the anatomist.
Palmer also supplied the glossary to A Dialogue in the Devonshire Dialect, written by his grandmother in the eighteenth century, but not published until 1837.
On 21 November 1831 Palmer married Isabella, third daughter of Dr John Gunning, C.B., who was inspector-general of hospitals at the time. After failing to secure two surgical appointments, Palmer migrated to Melbourne
, arriving at the end of September 1840, and in addition to practising his profession, was proprietor of a cordial manufactory and later, a wine merchant.
City Council and was elected Mayor of Melbourne in 1845. A mayor he laid the foundation-stone of the first Melbourne hospital building on 20 March 1846. In September 1848 Palmer was elected one of five members for Port Phillip District for the New South Wales Legislative Council
, but resigned in June 1849. When Victoria became a separate colony in 1851, Palmer was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council
and its speaker. When responsible government was granted Palmer became a candidate for the Council and was elected in 1856 for the Western Province. He was its first President and continued in that position until 1870, when he did not seek re-election to the Council on account of his failing health. Palmer died at Burwood
, Melbourne, on 23 April 1871. He was knighted in 1857.
Palmer was a good President of the council, took much interest in the Melbourne hospital, of which he was president for 26 years, and was also greatly interested in education. Palmer was president of the national board of education and subsequently of the board of education. Charles La Trobe
described him as 'a gentleman by birth, education and profession. Sometimes he pulled against, more often for, but I always respected him as honest'.
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....
n pioneer, first President of the Victorian Legislative Council
President of the Victorian Legislative Council
The President of the Victorian Legislative Council, also known as the Presiding Officer of the Council, is the presiding officer of the Victorian Legislative Council, the upper house of the Parliament of Victoria and equivalent to the President of the Australian Senate...
and former Mayor of Melbourne.
Early life
Palmer was born in Great TorringtonGreat Torrington
Great Torrington is a small market town in the north of Devon, England. Parts of it are sited on high ground with steep drops down to the River Torridge below...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
shire, England
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...
, the fourth son of the Rev. John Palmer (a nephew of Sir Joshua Reynolds),and his wife Jane, a daughter of William Johnson.
Palmer was trained in medicine, practised in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and was surgeon at St Thomas's hospital. In 1824 Palmer became a house surgeon at St George's Hospital (M.A.C.S., 1826). In 1835-37, Palmer edited a four-volume edition, Works of John Hunter
John Hunter (surgeon)
John Hunter FRS was a Scottish surgeon regarded as one of the most distinguished scientists and surgeons of his day. He was an early advocate of careful observation and scientific method in medicine. The Hunterian Society of London was named in his honour...
, the anatomist.
Palmer also supplied the glossary to A Dialogue in the Devonshire Dialect, written by his grandmother in the eighteenth century, but not published until 1837.
On 21 November 1831 Palmer married Isabella, third daughter of Dr John Gunning, C.B., who was inspector-general of hospitals at the time. After failing to secure two surgical appointments, Palmer migrated to Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, arriving at the end of September 1840, and in addition to practising his profession, was proprietor of a cordial manufactory and later, a wine merchant.
Politics
Palmer was an early member of the MelbourneMelbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
City Council and was elected Mayor of Melbourne in 1845. A mayor he laid the foundation-stone of the first Melbourne hospital building on 20 March 1846. In September 1848 Palmer was elected one of five members for Port Phillip District for 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...
, but resigned in June 1849. When Victoria became a separate colony in 1851, Palmer was elected a member of the 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...
and its speaker. When responsible government was granted Palmer became a candidate for the Council and was elected in 1856 for the Western Province. He was its first President and continued in that position until 1870, when he did not seek re-election to the Council on account of his failing health. Palmer died at Burwood
Burwood, Victoria
Burwood is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 17 km east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is largely the City of Whitehorse but includes the City of Monash in its south west corner. At the 2006 Census, Burwood had a population of 11,886.-History:The...
, Melbourne, on 23 April 1871. He was knighted in 1857.
Palmer was a good President of the council, took much interest in the Melbourne hospital, of which he was president for 26 years, and was also greatly interested in education. Palmer was president of the national board of education and subsequently of the board of education. Charles La Trobe
Charles La Trobe
Charles Joseph La Trobe was the first lieutenant-governor of the colony of Victoria .-Early life:La Trobe was born in London, the son of Christian Ignatius Latrobe, a family of Huguenot origin...
described him as 'a gentleman by birth, education and profession. Sometimes he pulled against, more often for, but I always respected him as honest'.
External links
- Sir James Frederick Palmer at Victorian Parliament
- A dialogue in the Devonshire dialect Glossary by J. F. Palmer
- Palmer page at thepeerage.com