14 Facts About Thomas Reibey

Thomas Reibey was an Australian politician and Premier of Tasmania from 20 July 1876 until 9 August 1877.

Thomas Reibey's father died before he graduated and he returned to Tasmania.

Thomas Reibey was for some years rector of Holy Trinity church, Launceston, and afterwards rector of Carrick, where he built and partly endowed a church.

Archdeacon Reibey was one of a number of the Anglican clergy in Tasmania who voyaged to the Bass Strait islands in the middle of the 19th century to minister to the spiritual needs of the islanders of Aboriginal descent.

Thomas Reibey was joined on the voyage by another cleric from northern Tasmania, the Reverend John Fereday of George Town.

Archdeacon Thomas Reibey made subsequent voyages to the islands in 1862 and 1866.

Thomas Reibey entered the Tasmanian House of Assembly as member for Westbury in 1874 and continued to represent it for 29 years.

Thomas Reibey was again leader of the opposition from August 1877 to December 1878 when he became colonial secretary in the William Crowther ministry until October 1879.

Thomas Reibey was minister without portfolio in the Edward Braddon ministry from April 1894 to October 1899.

Four years later Thomas Reibey retired from politics and confined his interests to country pursuits for the remainder of his long life.

Thomas Reibey had two estates and kept a stud of horses which he raced purely for the love of sport.

Thomas Reibey retired from racing towards the end of his life on account of his disapproval of some incidents that had occurred in connection with it.

Thomas Reibey was president of more than one racing club and gave much energy to the improvement of agriculture as president of the Northern Agricultural Society.

Thomas Reibey married in 1842 Catherine McDonall, daughter of James Kyle of Inverness, who predeceased him.