Samuel Gillott
Encyclopedia
Sir Samuel Gillott was an Australia
n lawyer and politician, commonly known as a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
, in the county of South Yorkshire
, England
, the son of Joseph and Elizabeth Gillott. Educated in Sheffield Grammar School
, Gillott moved to Melbourne
, Australia at the age of 18, in 1856. He was employed by a law firm, Vaughan, Moule & Seddon, and received his law degree from the University of Melbourne
. Immediately after he started practicing law, Vaughan, Moule & Seddon offered him a partnership
. During the 1890s, Gillott specialized in police court
practice, with a firm exception being the Speight v. Syme libel case.
. He became President of the Law Institute in 1900. In the same year, Gillott was re-elected as the Mayor of Melbourne. Promoted to Lord Mayor
in 1901, Gillott was knighted in the same year. In 1901, under the state ministry of Sir George Turner, Gillott was given the role of Honorary Minister. After the Turner Government's fall that year, he stayed on the ministry, becoming Attorney General
. In 1904, under the premiership of Sir Thomas Bent
, Gillott became the Chief Secretary
and the Minister for Labour.
In May 1906, controversy arose for Gillott when a demagogue reformer
, William Judkins, held him responsible for illegal gambling. As proof, Judkins named John Wren
's illegal betting schemes, which he held as evidence of a corrupt government. As a result of the controversial issue, Thomas Bent agreed to prohibit off-course betting. Later that year, Gillott introduced the gaming suppression bill. Following the gambling controversy, John Norton
's newspaper, The Truth
, published an article on Gillott, linking him to a well known brothel
proprietor, Caroline Hodgson
, and revealing his financial dealings with her since 1877. Resigning from parliament and the ministry after these allegations, Gillott returned to England, where he stayed for almost a year.
Returning to Australia after a year in England, he resumed his seat in the Melbourne City Council, and became President and Councillor of the Working Men's College of Melbourne
. On another visit to England in 1913, Gillott died after falling down a flight of stairs at night in Sheffield. He was 74 years of age. His body was returned to Australia and was interned at Melbourne General Cemetery.
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 politician, commonly known as a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne.
Early life
Gillott was born in the city of SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, in the county of South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, 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 son of Joseph and Elizabeth Gillott. Educated in Sheffield Grammar School
Sheffield Grammar School
Sheffield Grammar School began in 1604 as 'The Free Grammar School of James King of England within the Town of Sheffield in the County of York' in buildings in the Townhead area of Sheffield, resulting from the benefaction of John Smith of Crowland...
, Gillott moved 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...
, Australia at the age of 18, in 1856. He was employed by a law firm, Vaughan, Moule & Seddon, and received his law degree from 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...
. Immediately after he started practicing law, Vaughan, Moule & Seddon offered him a partnership
Partnership
A partnership is an arrangement where parties agree to cooperate to advance their mutual interests.Since humans are social beings, partnerships between individuals, businesses, interest-based organizations, schools, governments, and varied combinations thereof, have always been and remain commonplace...
. During the 1890s, Gillott specialized in police court
Police Court
Police Court is a 1932 American Monogram Pictures drama motion picture starring Henry B. Walthall, Leon Janney, Lionel Belmore, and King Baggot. Directed by Louis King and produced by I. E. Chadwick, the screenplay was adapted by Stuart Anthony from his story...
practice, with a firm exception being the Speight v. Syme libel case.
Politics
Gillott was elected as Mayor of Melbourne in 1896, but lost his mayorship in 1899 by one vote. In November 1899, Gillott was elected to the seat of East Melbourne, in the Legislative AssemblyLegislative Assembly
Legislative Assembly is the name given in some countries to either a legislature, or to one of its branch.The name is used by a number of member-states of the Commonwealth of Nations, as well as a number of Latin American countries....
. He became President of the Law Institute in 1900. In the same year, Gillott was re-elected as the Mayor of Melbourne. Promoted to Lord Mayor
Lord Mayor
The Lord Mayor is the title of the Mayor of a major city, with special recognition.-Commonwealth of Nations:* In Australia it is a political position. Australian cities with Lord Mayors: Adelaide, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Newcastle, Parramatta, Perth, Sydney, and Wollongong...
in 1901, Gillott was knighted in the same year. In 1901, under the state ministry of Sir George Turner, Gillott was given the role of Honorary Minister. After the Turner Government's fall that year, he stayed on the ministry, becoming Attorney General
Attorney General
In most common law jurisdictions, the attorney general, or attorney-general, is the main legal advisor to the government, and in some jurisdictions he or she may also have executive responsibility for law enforcement or responsibility for public prosecutions.The term is used to refer to any person...
. In 1904, under the premiership of Sir Thomas Bent
Thomas Bent
Sir Thomas Bent KCMG , Australian politician, was the 22nd Premier of Victoria. He was one of the most colourful and corrupt politicians in Victorian history....
, Gillott became the Chief Secretary
Chief Secretary
The Chief Secretary is the title of a senior civil servant in members of the Commonwealth of Nations, and, historically, in the British Empire. Prior to the dissolution of the colonies, the Chief Secretary was the second most important official in a colony of the British Empire after the...
and the Minister for Labour.
In May 1906, controversy arose for Gillott when a demagogue reformer
Demagogy
Demagogy or demagoguery is a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears, vanities and expectations of the public—typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes...
, William Judkins, held him responsible for illegal gambling. As proof, Judkins named John Wren
John Wren
John Wren was an Australian businessman. He has become a legendary figure thanks mainly to a fictionalised account of his life in Frank Hardy's novel Power Without Glory, which was also made into a television series...
's illegal betting schemes, which he held as evidence of a corrupt government. As a result of the controversial issue, Thomas Bent agreed to prohibit off-course betting. Later that year, Gillott introduced the gaming suppression bill. Following the gambling controversy, John Norton
John Norton (Australian journalist)
John Norton, , was an English-born Australian journalist, editor and member of the New South Wales Parliament. He was a writer and newspaper proprietor best known for his Sydney newspaper the Truth...
's newspaper, The Truth
The Truth (newspaper)
The Truth was a Melbourne tabloid newspaper established in 1902 as a subsidiary of the Sydney Truth, established in 1890.In its early years its politics was very much left-leaning, and it painted itself as the voice of the working class. Before 1945 it had a style of journalism that was high...
, published an article on Gillott, linking him to a well known brothel
Brothel
Brothels are business establishments where patrons can engage in sexual activities with prostitutes. Brothels are known under a variety of names, including bordello, cathouse, knocking shop, whorehouse, strumpet house, sporting house, house of ill repute, house of prostitution, and bawdy house...
proprietor, Caroline Hodgson
Caroline Hodgson
Caroline Hodgson , also known as Madame Brussels, was a well-known brothel proprietor and local identity of the Little Lon district in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, during the late 19th century.-Life:...
, and revealing his financial dealings with her since 1877. Resigning from parliament and the ministry after these allegations, Gillott returned to England, where he stayed for almost a year.
Returning to Australia after a year in England, he resumed his seat in the Melbourne City Council, and became President and Councillor of the Working Men's College of Melbourne
RMIT University
RMIT University is an Australian public university located in Melbourne, Victoria. It has two branches, referred to as RMIT University in Australia and RMIT International University in Vietnam....
. On another visit to England in 1913, Gillott died after falling down a flight of stairs at night in Sheffield. He was 74 years of age. His body was returned to Australia and was interned at Melbourne General Cemetery.