Hon John Jenkins

John Greely Jenkins

08 September 1851

Unknown

Former Member

Not Re-elected

02 April 1887

Originally from Pennsylvania, John Jenkins was the only American-born South Australian Premier. He came to South Australia on business in 1878 and decided to stay, setting up as a bookseller. In the 1880's he became involved in local government politics and in 1887 was elected, on a protectionist platform, to the House of Assembly. During the 1890's he held several ministerial portfolios including Commissioner of Public Works in the Kingston government. With the election in 1901 of numerous prominent South Australian political figures to the new Federal Parliament, including the Premier, Frederick Holder, Jenkins was given the opportunity to form a ministry. The election of a new Parliament in 1902 saw Jenkins forced to rely on the support of the conservative Australasian National League in order to stay in power. Although Jenkins had previously supported the progressive policies associated with Kingston's Premiership, he and his ministers found it necessary to move increasingly to the right in order to pacify the ANL. As a consequence government spending and regulation of private industry were curtailed. In 1905 Jenkins resigned and moved to London, where he took up the post of Agent-General for South Australia, in addition to pursuing private business interests. He died in England in 1923.

22 February 1923