1. Sir George Richard Dibbs KCMG was an Australian politician who was Premier of New South Wales on three occasions.
21 Facts About George Dibbs
1. 2.
George Dibbs was educated at the Australian College under Dr Lang, obtained a position as a young man in a Sydney wine merchant's business, and afterwards was in partnership as a merchant with a brother.
3.
George Dibbs travelled abroad, and established a branch in Valparaiso in 1865, which involved running a Spanish blockade during the Chincha Islands War.
4.
George Dibbs entered parliament in 1874 as MLA for West Sydney, as a supporter of business interests and compulsory, secular and free education, which involved withdrawal of the support from denominational schools, provided under the Education Act of 1866.
5.
George Dibbs opposed the first ministry of Henry Parkes on this issue and was loosely associated with the third ministry of John Robertson, but fell out with Robertson, denouncing his education bill as a sham and betrayal, returning to support Parkes.
6.
George Dibbs lost his seat at the 1877 election due to his support for assisted immigration, which gave him a reputation as an "enemy of labour".
7.
In 1880 John Shepherd commenced the great slander case against him, claiming that George Dibbs had slandered him by saying that Shepherd had committed adultery with the wife of Dibb's brother John.
8.
George Dibbs was perceived by the electorate as the virtuous underdog, Shepherd as the villain, and on his release on 6 May 1881, he found his political popularity restored.
9.
George Dibbs was Colonial Secretary in the ministry of Sir Patrick Jennings from February 1886 to January 1887.
10.
George Dibbs was politically isolated and in July 1887 joined the Protectionist Party, becoming leader of the party on 20 September 1887.
11.
George Dibbs became Premier again on 17 January 1889, but was succeeded by Parkes seven weeks later.
12.
When Parkes resigned in October 1891 George Dibbs came into power following the 1891 New South Wales election, with Labour support, in a time of great financial stress.
13.
George Dibbs went to England in June 1892 on a borrowing mission, not only as the representative of New South Wales but of Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, and carried out his negotiations successfully.
14.
George Dibbs was elected as the member for Tamworth in 1894.
15.
George Dibbs later received a substantial public testimonial for his services at this time.
16.
George Dibbs was a member of the 1891 convention and sat on the judiciary committee, but was never more than a lukewarm advocate for it.
17.
George Dibbs was reconciled with Parkes in 1894, but both lost their seats at the election held in July 1895, having been portrayed as reactionary and unprincipled by Reid.
18.
George Dibbs retired from public life, and was appointed managing trustee of the savings bank of New South Wales.
19.
George Dibbs held this position until his death in the Sydney suburb of Hunters Hill in 1904.
20.
George Dibbs was survived by Lady Dibbs, two sons and nine daughters.
21.
George Dibbs was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in July 1892.