Robert Pohlman
Encyclopedia
Robert Williams Pohlman (March 1811 – 6 December 1877) was an English
-born Australia
n lawyer and judge.
Pohlman was born in London
in 1811. Little is known of his early life, other than that he studied law after finishing school, was admitted as a barrister in England, and as an advocate in Scotland
in 1839.
Pohlman and his younger brother Frederick emigrated to Australia, arriving at Port Phillip
in October 1840. The following year the brothers purchased a portion of Darlington Station near Kyneton
, north-west of Melbourne
, where they ran several thousand sheep.
After the creation of the Supreme Court of New South Wales for the District of Port Phillip
, and the appointment of Justice John Willis
as Resident Judge, Pohlman was admitted to the local bar, one of the first six barristers admitted in Port Phillip (along with Edward Brewster, Redmond Barry
, James Croke, Archibald Cuninghame and James Murray). He maintained a private practice for the next five years. Brewster, Cuninghame and Murray did not remain in Port Phillip for long, however, and most of the legal work in Melbourne during this time was performed by Pohlman and Barry, until they were joined later by William Stawell, Edward Eyre Williams
and Sidney Stephen. Pohlman had a similar background to these other lawyers, and together "they acted as an informal Senior Common Room in the 1840s, dining and socialising together and generally supportive of their own brand of legal manners." However, Pohlman gradually received less work than the other four leaders of the bar.
In addition to his private practice, Pohlman was appointed the Commissioner of Insolvent Estates in 1846, and the Master in Equity in July 1851. Pohlman was selected by Lieutenant-Governor La Trobe
to fill one of the nominee positions in the Legislative Council of Victoria when that body was created; he was sworn in in November 1851. He continued as a member until resigning in October 1854, but was elected to the Council for Ripon, Hampden, Grenville and Polwarth Province at the January 1855 election. He was a candidate for South Western Province at the March 1856 election, but was not elected.
Pohlman had a long interest in education. He was the first and only chairman of the Denominational Board of Education from 1848 until 1862, when that body merged with the national board. After the University of Melbourne
was created in 1853, Pohlman was one of the inaugural members of the University Council.
Pohlman was twice an acting judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
, from April 1859 until April 1861, and again from July through December in 1871, while William Stawell was absent with illness.
Pohlman died in 1877 at his home in Punt Road, Richmond
and was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery
.
A street in the Canberra suburb of Latham is named after him.
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...
-born 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 lawyer and judge.
Pohlman was born 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...
in 1811. Little is known of his early life, other than that he studied law after finishing school, was admitted as a barrister in England, and as an advocate in 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 1839.
Pohlman and his younger brother Frederick emigrated to Australia, arriving at Port Phillip
Port Phillip
Port Phillip Port Phillip Port Phillip (also commonly referred to as Port Phillip Bay or (locally) just The Bay, is a large bay in southern Victoria, Australia; it is the location of Melbourne. Geographically, the bay covers and the shore stretches roughly . Although it is extremely shallow for...
in October 1840. The following year the brothers purchased a portion of Darlington Station near Kyneton
Kyneton, Victoria
Kyneton is a town on the Calder Highway in the Macedon Ranges of Victoria, Australia. The Calder Freeway bypasses Kyneton to the north and east. The town was named after the English village of Kineton, Warwickshire. The town has three main streets: Mollison Street, Piper Street and High Street...
, north-west of 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...
, where they ran several thousand sheep.
After the creation of the Supreme Court of New South Wales for the District of Port Phillip
Supreme Court of New South Wales for the District of Port Phillip
The Supreme Court of New South Wales for the District of Port Phillip was an historical division of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, exercising the jurisdiction of that court within the Port Phillip District of New South Wales. It consisted of a single Resident Judge...
, and the appointment of Justice John Willis
John Walpole Willis
John Walpole Willis was an English-born judge, and a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.- Early life :...
as Resident Judge, Pohlman was admitted to the local bar, one of the first six barristers admitted in Port Phillip (along with Edward Brewster, Redmond Barry
Redmond Barry
Sir Redmond Barry KCMG was an Irish colonial judge in Victoria, Australia.-Early life:Barry was the son of Major-General Henry Green Barry, of Ballyclough, County Cork and his wife Phoebe Drought, daughter of John Armstrong Drought and Letita Head...
, James Croke, Archibald Cuninghame and James Murray). He maintained a private practice for the next five years. Brewster, Cuninghame and Murray did not remain in Port Phillip for long, however, and most of the legal work in Melbourne during this time was performed by Pohlman and Barry, until they were joined later by William Stawell, Edward Eyre Williams
Edward Williams (Victorian judge)
Sir Edward Eyre Williams was an English-Australian lawyer and judge.Williams was born in 1813 in England, to Burton Williams, a colonist from Trinidad, and his wife Jane; he was the couple's sixth son. In November 1833, after completing his education, Williams was called to the bar of the Inner...
and Sidney Stephen. Pohlman had a similar background to these other lawyers, and together "they acted as an informal Senior Common Room in the 1840s, dining and socialising together and generally supportive of their own brand of legal manners." However, Pohlman gradually received less work than the other four leaders of the bar.
In addition to his private practice, Pohlman was appointed the Commissioner of Insolvent Estates in 1846, and the Master in Equity in July 1851. Pohlman was selected by Lieutenant-Governor 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...
to fill one of the nominee positions in the Legislative Council of Victoria when that body was created; he was sworn in in November 1851. He continued as a member until resigning in October 1854, but was elected to the Council for Ripon, Hampden, Grenville and Polwarth Province at the January 1855 election. He was a candidate for South Western Province at the March 1856 election, but was not elected.
Pohlman had a long interest in education. He was the first and only chairman of the Denominational Board of Education from 1848 until 1862, when that body merged with the national board. After the University of Melbourne
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is a public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. Founded in 1853, it is the second oldest university in Australia and the oldest in Victoria...
was created in 1853, Pohlman was one of the inaugural members of the University Council.
Pohlman was twice an acting judge of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the superior court for the State of Victoria, Australia. It was founded in 1852, and is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited jurisdiction within the state...
, from April 1859 until April 1861, and again from July through December in 1871, while William Stawell was absent with illness.
Pohlman died in 1877 at his home in Punt Road, Richmond
Richmond, Victoria
Richmond is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 3 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Yarra...
and was buried at Melbourne General Cemetery
Melbourne General Cemetery
The Melbourne General Cemetery is a large necropolis located north of the city of Melbourne in the suburb of Carlton North.-History:...
.
A street in the Canberra suburb of Latham is named after him.