1. Sir Jenkin Coles was a South Australian politician.
14 Facts About Jenkin Coles
1. 2.
Jenkin Coles was a member of the South Australian House of Assembly from 1875 to 1878 and 1881 to 1911, representing the electorates of Light and Wooroora.
3.
Jenkin Coles was Leader of the Opposition from 1886 to 1887 and later served as Speaker of the House of Assembly from 1890 to 1911.
4.
Coles was the son of Jenkin and Caroline Coles, came of an old north of Ireland family, and was born at Liverpool, New South Wales.
5.
Jenkin Coles obtained a position as a junior clerk with the Murray River Navigation office, but gave this up to become assistant dispenser and receiver of stores at the Adelaide hospital for three years.
6.
Jenkin Coles then joined the mounted police and served for three years in the country.
7.
The business prospered so much that Jenkin Coles was able to practically retire from it before he was 40.
8.
Jenkin Coles was returned to the South Australian House of Assembly as member for Light in 1875, but did not stand at the 1878 election as he found that the strain of carrying on both business and parliamentary duties was too great.
9.
Jenkin Coles was commissioner of crown lands from June 1884 to February 1885, and commissioner of public works from February to June 1885 in the second John Colton ministry and showed himself to be a vigorous administrator.
10.
Jenkin Coles was commissioner of crown lands again in the Thomas Playford II ministry from June 1887 to June 1889.
11.
Jenkin Coles married in 1865 Ellen Henrietta Briggs, who survived him with four sons and seven daughters.
12.
Jenkin Coles was speaker for 21 years and 165 days, a then record in Australia, and until his last illness never missed a sitting.
13.
Jenkin Coles had a great knowledge of the standing orders and was firm, tactful, alert and wise.
14.
Jenkin Coles was thoroughly respected on both sides of the house, his rulings and requests were always obeyed, and under his sway the house of assembly in South Australia established a high reputation for the orderly conduct of its business.