William Crowther (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
William Lodewyk Crowther FRCS
(15 April 1817 – 12 April 1885) was an Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.
, Netherlands
, elder child of Dr. William Crowther who was later a long-time resident surgeon of Hobart
.. The Crowthers moved to Van Diemen's Land
(now Tasmania
) in 1824.
Crowther was educated at a private school at Richard B. Claiborne's Grammar School in Longford, Tasmania
and then went to St Thomas' Hospital
, England to study medicine. In 1842 he returned to Tasmania and practised at Hobart.
in October 1866, but resigned his seat in December 1866. On 22 March 1869, he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council
as a representative of Hobart and held this seat until his death. He was a constant attendant and an able speaker. In July 1876 he joined the Thomas Reibey
cabinet as a minister without portfolio, and on 20 December 1878 became premier. The state of the political parties at that time made it practically impossible to do anything constructive. Crowther resigned on 29 October 1879.
A statue of W. L. Crowther is erected in Franklin Square, Hobart
. The inscription reads:
The W.L. Crowther Library was named in his memory, and presented to the State Library of Tasmania
by his grandson Sir William Crowther (1887–1981).
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons
Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons is a professional qualification to practise as a surgeon in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland...
(15 April 1817 – 12 April 1885) was an Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.
Early life
Crowther was born in HaarlemHaarlem
Haarlem is a municipality and a city in the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of North Holland, the northern half of Holland, which at one time was the most powerful of the seven provinces of the Dutch Republic...
, Netherlands
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, elder child of Dr. William Crowther who was later a long-time resident surgeon of Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
.. The Crowthers moved to Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land
Van Diemen's Land was the original name used by most Europeans for the island of Tasmania, now part of Australia. The Dutch explorer Abel Tasman was the first European to land on the shores of Tasmania...
(now Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
) in 1824.
Crowther was educated at a private school at Richard B. Claiborne's Grammar School in Longford, Tasmania
Longford, Tasmania
Longford is a town in the north-east of Tasmania, Australia. It lies 175 m above sea level at the convergence of the Macquarie River and the South Esk River, 21 km south of Launceston. It is just south of the Illawarra Road, a road connecting the Bass and Midland Highways. It has a...
and then went to St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital
St Thomas' Hospital is a large NHS hospital in London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It has provided health care freely or under charitable auspices since the 12th century and was originally located in Southwark.St Thomas' Hospital is accessible...
, England to study medicine. In 1842 he returned to Tasmania and practised at Hobart.
Political career
Crowther was elected to the Tasmanian House of AssemblyTasmanian House of Assembly
The House of Assembly, or Lower House, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the Legislative Council or Upper House...
in October 1866, but resigned his seat in December 1866. On 22 March 1869, he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council
Tasmanian Legislative Council
The Legislative Council, or upper house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Tasmania in Australia. The other is the House of Assembly. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Hobart...
as a representative of Hobart and held this seat until his death. He was a constant attendant and an able speaker. In July 1876 he joined the Thomas Reibey
Thomas Reibey
Thomas Reibey was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 20 July 1876 until 9 August 1877....
cabinet as a minister without portfolio, and on 20 December 1878 became premier. The state of the political parties at that time made it practically impossible to do anything constructive. Crowther resigned on 29 October 1879.
Legacy
Crowther died in Hobart on 12 April 1885. He married Victoria Marie Louise, daughter of General Muller, who survived him with eight children. One of his sons, Dr Edward. L. Crowther, was a member of the Tasmanian parliament from 1878 to 1912.A statue of W. L. Crowther is erected in Franklin Square, Hobart
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
. The inscription reads:
The W.L. Crowther Library was named in his memory, and presented to the State Library of Tasmania
State Library of Tasmania
The State Library of Tasmania is the organisation which runs the library system in the state of Tasmania, Australia. The State Library operates as part of the Tasmanian Department of Education, and maintains close ties with Tasmanian schools and senior secondary colleges.The headquarters of the...
by his grandson Sir William Crowther (1887–1981).