103 Facts About Henry Parkes

Sir Henry Parkes, was a colonial Australian politician and longest non-consecutive Premier of the Colony of New South Wales, the present-day state of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Henry Parkes has been referred to as the "Father of Federation" due to his early promotion for the federation of the six colonies of Australia, as an early critic of British convict transportation and as a proponent for the expansion of the Australian continental rail network.

Henry Parkes died in 1896, five years before this process was completed.

Henry Parkes was described during his lifetime by The Times as "the most commanding figure in Australian politics".

Alfred Deakin described Sir Henry Parkes as having flaws but nonetheless being "a large-brained self-educated Titan whose natural field was found in Parliament".

Henry Parkes was born in Canley in Warwickshire, England, and christened in the nearby village of Stoneleigh.

Henry Parkes's father, Thomas Parkes, was a small-scale tenant farmer.

Henry Parkes received little formal education, and at an early age was working on a ropewalk for 4 pence a day.

Henry Parkes was then apprenticed to John Holding, a bone and ivory turner at Birmingham, and around 1832 joined the Birmingham political union.

Henry Parkes commenced business on his own account in Birmingham and had a bitter struggle to make ends meet.

Henry Parkes was eventually employed as a labourer with John Jamison, one of the colony's wealthiest settlers, on the Regentville estate near Penrith.

About a year after his arrival in Sydney, Henry Parkes was hired by the New South Wales Customs Department as a Tide Waiter, and given the task of inspecting merchant vessels to guard against smuggling.

Henry Parkes had been recommended for this post by Jamison's son-in-law, William John Gibbes, who was the manager of Regentville and the son of Colonel John George Nathaniel Gibbes who led the Customs Department.

Gibbes' grandson, Frederick Jamison Gibbes, was a member of the Parliament of New South Wales in the 1880s and like Henry Parkes became a supporter of federation.

Henry Parkes worked as an ivory and bone turner and later ran a shop of his own in Hunter Street.

Henry Parkes continued to support Australian culture and published poetry in his newspapers.

Henry Parkes became an opponent of the transportation of convicts to Australia and a supporter of land reform.

Henry Parkes voiced his opinions on political issues in Atlas and the People's Advocate.

Henry Parkes first became involved in politics in 1848 when he worked for Robert Lowe in his successful campaign in the Legislative Council elections.

Henry Parkes spoke in favour of universal suffrage for the first time.

On 8 June 1849, Henry Parkes attended a protest in Circular Quay against the arrival of a convict ship in Sydney.

Henry Parkes continued to support the anti-transportation cause with writings and speeches, until the British Government ended almost all transportation to Australia in 1853.

Henry Parkes was loyal to the British Empire, but wanted critics of the establishment to have a voice.

Henry Parkes attacked William Wentworth's plans to introduce self-governance because it proposed an unelected Legislative Council and a restrictive franchise for the elected Legislative Assembly.

Some years later, Henry Parkes said that, "in the heated opposition to the objectionable parts of Mr Wentworth's scheme, no sufficient attention was given to its great merits".

Charles Kemp and Henry Parkes were nominated for the vacancy, and the latter was successful by 1427 votes to 779.

Henry Parkes was with the minority faction in the Legislative Council, and he and his political allies could afford to bide their time until the new constitution came into force.

Henry Parkes was persuaded to alter his mind, and a month later he stood as a liberal candidate for Sydney City in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly.

Henry Parkes was once offered office but declined as he felt he would be deserting his friends.

Early in that year, Henry Parkes had entered the Legislative Assembly again, this time as member for the North Riding of Cumberland.

Henry Parkes sat in this parliament for about six months but then resigned at the end of August 1858 on account of his insolvency.

An investigation of Henry Parkes' accounts found he had generally acted under the advice of his banker, and he was ultimately exonerated by the chief commissioner in insolvency of any fraudulent intent.

Henry Parkes stood as an independent candidate, but in the list of candidates elected he was described by the Sydney Morning Herald as a "radical".

Henry Parkes was generally in favour of Sir John Robertson's land policy, of the extension of education, and of free trade.

Henry Parkes was a strong supporter of free trade, immigration programmes and education reforms.

Henry Parkes was strongly in favour of developing manufactures as he was of encouraging agriculture.

Henry Parkes introduced laws that gave the Government the power to employ teachers and create public schools, abolished government funding to religious schools and improved prisons.

Henry Parkes left his wife and five, soon to become six, children in poverty, on a rented farm at Werrington.

Henry Parkes felt that he had done good work, but it was difficult to say how much effect his words had.

In January 1866 the premier, Charles Cowper, resigned in consequence of an amendment moved by Henry Parkes having been carried.

An important piece of legislation carried through was the Public Schools Act 1866, introduced by Henry Parkes, which required teachers to have training and created a funding mechanism.

Henry Parkes initiated the introduction of nurses from England trained by Florence Nightingale.

Henry Parkes resigned from the Martin ministry in September 1868, and for the next three and a half years was out of office.

Henry Parkes continued to be one of the most conspicuous figures in the house, and at the 1869 election was returned at the head of the poll for East Sydney.

In 1870, Henry Parkes was again in financial difficulties and was obliged to resign his seat.

Henry Parkes was at once re-elected for Kiama, but an extremely hostile article in the Sydney Morning Herald led to his resigning again.

The Martin-Robertson ministry had involved itself in a dispute with the colony of Victoria over a question of border duties, and Henry Parkes effectively threw ridicule on the proceedings.

When parliament assembled, Henry Parkes was elected leader of the opposition.

The acting-governor had sent for William Forster before parliament met, but he was unable to form a ministry, and in May 1872 Henry Parkes formed his first ministry which was to last for nearly three years.

Henry Parkes had always supported free trade, and his convictions were strengthened during a visit to England when he met Cobden and other leading advocates.

Henry Parkes's government sponsored the building of railway and telegraph lines and reduced some taxes.

Opposition developed in many quarters and Henry Parkes decided to appoint Sir James Martin instead.

Henry Parkes was accused of manoeuvring to get rid of Butler, who was seen as an opponent within Henry Parkes' faction, but no evidence was found to support this.

When Henry Parkes was defeated Robertson came into power, and for the next two years little was done of real importance.

Henry Parkes became tired of his position as leader of the opposition and resigned early in 1877.

Henry Parkes said of this ministry that it had "as smooth a time as the toad under the harrow".

Henry Parkes was then approached by Parkes, and a government was formed with Robertson as vice-president of the Executive Council and representative of the government in the Upper House.

Henry Parkes still kept up his habit of working long hours, and except for week-end visits to his house in the mountains he had no relaxation.

Henry Parkes vetoed a suggestion that a substantial testimonial should be presented to him by his friends.

Henry Parkes stayed in America for about six weeks on his way to Europe and did his best to make Australia better known.

Henry Parkes argued in favour of good relations between England and her colonies while arguing for their right to self-determination; "the softer the cords" he said "the stronger will be the union between us".

Henry Parkes was able to visit the farmhouse where he was born and the church where he was christened.

When Henry Parkes returned, the government was apparently in no danger, and the topic of political debate turned to land reform.

Henry Parkes had argued for land reform as far back as 1877, and Robertson's bill only proposed comparatively unimportant amendments.

Henry Parkes' faction was not only defeated, but Henry Parkes lost his own seat at East Sydney.

Henry Parkes was returned to Parliament in another constituency but he took little interest in politics for some time.

Henry Parkes went to England as representative of a Sydney financial company and did not return until August 1884, having been absent 14 months.

Henry Parkes opened an office in Pitt Street as representative of the financial association which had sent him to England, and remained in this position until 1887.

Henry Parkes did not apologise, but his ministry was discouraged from going further.

One of the supporters of the ministry moved that Henry Parkes should be expelled but only obtained the support of his seconder.

At the election Henry Parkes stood against Dibbs at St Leonards, and defeated him by 476 votes.

Henry Parkes proposed to do away with the recent increase in duties, to bring in an amended land act, and to create a body to control the railways free of political influence.

Henry Parkes campaigned against Chinese immigration at the point when it became a political issue.

Henry Parkes was received with "loud and continuous cheers" in the Legislative Assembly when he spoke of the need "to terminate a moral and social pestilence, and preserve to ourselves and to our children unaltered and unspotted the rights and privileges which we have received from our forefathers".

At the ensuing election Henry Parkes was returned with a small majority and formed his fifth administration, which began in March 1889 and lasted until October 1891.

Various other conferences were held in the next 20 years at which the question came up, in which Henry Parkes took a leading part, but in October 1884 he was blowing cold and suggesting that it would be "better to let the idea of federation mature in men's minds", and New South Wales then stood out of the proposed federal council scheme.

Henry Parkes had come to the conclusion that the time had come for a new federal movement.

Henry Parkes now felt more confidence in the movement and on 15 October 1889 telegraphed to the premiers of the other colonies suggesting a conference.

On 24 October 1889, at the Tenterfield School of Arts, Henry Parkes delivered the Tenterfield Oration.

Henry Parkes convened the 1890 Federation Conference of February 1890 and may be considered the first real step towards Federation.

Henry Parkes proposed the name of Commonwealth of Australia for the new nation.

Henry Parkes then announced that in view of Reid's amendment he proposed to put the federal bill third on the list.

Dibbs moved a vote of no confidence, defeated only on the casting vote of the speaker, and Henry Parkes resigned on 22 October 1891.

Henry Parkes had already mooted a referendum, but strongly favoured a convention delegates being chosen by premiers, rather than elected by the public.

In quest of his political enemy, Henry Parkes stood against Reid at the 1895 general election for Sydney-King, winning 44 percent of the vote.

Henry Parkes was obliged to sell his collection of autograph letters and many other things that he valued, to provide for his household.

Towards the end of his life, Henry Parkes resided at Kenilworth, a Gothic mansion in Johnston Street, Annandale, a Sydney suburb.

Henry Parkes was survived by his third wife, five daughters and one son of the first marriage, and five sons and one daughter by the second.

Henry Parkes had left directions that his funeral should be as simple as possible; a state funeral was declined, but a very large number of people attended when he was placed by the side of his first wife at Faulconbridge in the grounds of his former home in the Blue Mountains.

Henry Parkes was described during his lifetime by The Times as "the most commanding figure in Australian politics".

Henry Parkes was known for his commanding personality and skills as an orator, despite having a minor speech impediment with controlling aspirates.

Henry Parkes spoke to his supporters in plain, down-to-earth language, and pursued his causes with great determination.

Henry Parkes was interested in early Australian literary men, having been a friend of both Harpur and Kendall.

Henry Parkes had received almost no formal education, but educated himself by reading widely.

Henry Parkes was not successful as a businessman or at managing his personal finances, and he had little wealth at the time of his death.

Henry Parkes was less ambitious with social reform legislation in the later years of his career, due to the strong conservative opposition he encountered.

Henry Parkes was first married to Clarinda Varney on 11 July 1836 in Birmingham.

Henry Parkes died on 2 February 1888 in Balmain, New South Wales, aged 74.

Henry Parkes married thirdly in Parramatta on 23 October 1895 to Julia Lynch, his 23-year-old former cook and housekeeper.

Lady Henry Parkes died on 11 July 1919 in Lewisham, New South Wales.

Henry Parkes was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1877, and Knight Grand Cross of the same order in 1888.

Henry Parkes's image appears on the Australian one-dollar coin of 1996; and on the Centenary of Federation commemoration Australian $5 note issued in 2001.

Henry Parkes is commemorated in his birthplace Canley, Coventry by the naming of a road and a school in Coventry.