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John Cockburn (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Alexander Cockburn, KCMG (23 August 185026 November 1929) was Premier of South Australia from 27 June 1889 until 18 August 1890.
Cockburn was born in Corsbie, Berwickshire
, Scotland
in 1850. His father was Thomas Cockburn. He was educated at Highgate School
, and King's College London
, he obtained the degree of M.D. London
, with first class honours and gold medal. In 1875 he married Sarah Holdway (the daughter of Forbes Scott Brown) He emigrated to South Australia
in 1879 and set up practice at Jamestown
in the mid North
.
In 1878, he was elected as the first mayor of Jamestown. In that role he lobbied the South Australian government to construct a railway to the New South Wales border to tap the newly-developed silver mining fields of the Barrier Ranges. Between 1884 and 1888, during Cockburn's parliamentary career, the government line through Jamestown to Petersburg (now named Peterborough
) was extended to the border to meet a private tramway built by the Silverton Tramway Company. This linked the growing mines of Broken Hill to the South Australian coast at Port Pirie, where a smelter was built in 1889, effectively capturing the economic benefits of the Broken Hill mining field for South Australia. The town surveyed at the colonial border in 1886 was named Cockburn in his honour.
He stood for Burra in the South Australian House of Assembly
in 1884, serving as Minister of Education from 1885 - 1887 (under premier John Downer
) before losing that seat and returning as member for Mount Barker
, elected in April 1887 and holding that seat for 11 years.
In 1884, he was able to pass progressive legislation including succession duties and land tax, and in 1886 was involved in introducing payment for members of the South Australian parliament.
He became the first doctor to be Premier of South Australia on 27 June 1889 for fourteen months, before losing a no-confidence motion and handing back to Thomas Playford
.
He was Minister for Education again and Minister for Agriculture in the Kingston
ministry from 1893 until April 1898.
He was active in the planning of Federation
, including representing South Australia at the Melbourne conference in 1890 and in Sydney in 1891.
After resigning from parliament, he went to England to serve as Agent-General for South Australia. He resigned in 1901 when the position was downgraded (due to federation), but remained in London and unofficially represented South Australia and Australia in many things.
He had a long career in Freemasonry
, beginning with his initiation in 1876. He would go on to help establish the Grand Lodge of South Australia, and to serve in several high offices within it. After his return to England, he founded a new lodge in London and served as president of the International Masonic Club. As a Masonic Rosicrucian
he was attracted to esoteric and philosophical subjects, and published several dozen articles exploring such themes in various Masonic periodicals.
He was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
(KCMG) in 1900. He died in London in 1929 without ever returning to Australia. His wife, son and daughter survived him.
Cockburn was born in Corsbie, Berwickshire
Berwickshire
Berwickshire or the County of Berwick is a registration county, a committee area of the Scottish Borders Council, and a lieutenancy area of Scotland, on the border with England. The town after which it is named—Berwick-upon-Tweed—was lost by Scotland to England in 1482...
, 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...
in 1850. His father was Thomas Cockburn. He was educated at Highgate School
Highgate School
-Notable members of staff and governing body:* John Ireton, brother of Henry Ireton, Cromwellian General* 1st Earl of Mansfield, Lord Chief Justice, owner of Kenwood, noted for judgment finding contracts for slavery unenforceable in English law* T. S...
, and King's College London
King's College London
King's College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London. King's has a claim to being the third oldest university in England, having been founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, and...
, he obtained the degree of M.D. London
Doctor of Medicine
Doctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
, with first class honours and gold medal. In 1875 he married Sarah Holdway (the daughter of Forbes Scott Brown) He emigrated to South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
in 1879 and set up practice at Jamestown
Jamestown, South Australia
Jamestown is a town in the Mid North region of South Australia north of Adelaide. It is on the banks of the Belalie Creek and on the railway line between Gladstone and Peterborough, and ultimately on the main line linking Adelaide and Perth to Sydney...
in the mid North
Mid North
The Mid North is a region of South Australia, north of the Adelaide Plains, but not as far north as the Far North, or outback. It is generally accepted to extend from Spencer Gulf east to the Barrier Highway, including the coastal plain, the southern part of the Flinders Ranges, and the northern...
.
In 1878, he was elected as the first mayor of Jamestown. In that role he lobbied the South Australian government to construct a railway to the New South Wales border to tap the newly-developed silver mining fields of the Barrier Ranges. Between 1884 and 1888, during Cockburn's parliamentary career, the government line through Jamestown to Petersburg (now named Peterborough
Peterborough, South Australia
Peterborough is a town in the mid north of South Australia, in wheat country, just off the Barrier Highway. At the 2006 census, Peterborough had a population of 1,689....
) was extended to the border to meet a private tramway built by the Silverton Tramway Company. This linked the growing mines of Broken Hill to the South Australian coast at Port Pirie, where a smelter was built in 1889, effectively capturing the economic benefits of the Broken Hill mining field for South Australia. The town surveyed at the colonial border in 1886 was named Cockburn in his honour.
He stood for Burra in the South Australian House of Assembly
South Australian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia. The other is the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide.- Overview :...
in 1884, serving as Minister of Education from 1885 - 1887 (under premier John Downer
John Downer
Sir John William Downer, KCMG was the Premier of South Australia from 16 June 1885 until 11 June 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893. He was the first of three Australian politicians from the Downer family dynasty.-Early life:...
) before losing that seat and returning as member for Mount Barker
Mount Barker, South Australia
Mount Barker is an expanding city, home to 10 258 residents that is 33 kilometres up the South Eastern Freeway, east of Adelaide, in South Australia. It is the seat of the District Council of Mount Barker, is the largest town in the Adelaide Hills, and is one of the fastest growing areas in the...
, elected in April 1887 and holding that seat for 11 years.
In 1884, he was able to pass progressive legislation including succession duties and land tax, and in 1886 was involved in introducing payment for members of the South Australian parliament.
He became the first doctor to be Premier of South Australia on 27 June 1889 for fourteen months, before losing a no-confidence motion and handing back to Thomas Playford
Thomas Playford II
Thomas Playford served as Premier of South Australia from 11 June 1887 to 26 June 1889 and 8 August 1890 to 20 June 1892, as well as serving as the Australian Federal Minister for Defence from 1905 to 1907....
.
He was Minister for Education again and Minister for Agriculture in the Kingston
Charles Kingston
Charles Cameron Kingston, Australian politician, was an early liberal Premier of South Australia serving from 1893 to 1899 with the support of Labor led by John McPherson from 1893 and Lee Batchelor from 1897 in the House of Assembly, winning the 1893, 1896, and 1899 state elections against the...
ministry from 1893 until April 1898.
He was active in the planning of Federation
Federation of Australia
The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia formed one nation...
, including representing South Australia at the Melbourne conference in 1890 and in Sydney in 1891.
After resigning from parliament, he went to England to serve as Agent-General for South Australia. He resigned in 1901 when the position was downgraded (due to federation), but remained in London and unofficially represented South Australia and Australia in many things.
He had a long career in Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, beginning with his initiation in 1876. He would go on to help establish the Grand Lodge of South Australia, and to serve in several high offices within it. After his return to England, he founded a new lodge in London and served as president of the International Masonic Club. As a Masonic Rosicrucian
Rosicrucian
Rosicrucianism is a philosophical secret society, said to have been founded in late medieval Germany by Christian Rosenkreuz. It holds a doctrine or theology "built on esoteric truths of the ancient past", which, "concealed from the average man, provide insight into nature, the physical universe...
he was attracted to esoteric and philosophical subjects, and published several dozen articles exploring such themes in various Masonic periodicals.
He was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
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....
(KCMG) in 1900. He died in London in 1929 without ever returning to Australia. His wife, son and daughter survived him.