Hon Sir John Downer KCMG KC

Sir John William Downer KCMG KC

05 July 1843

Liberal Union

Former Member

Southern District

Legislative Council

11 April 1878

St Peter's College

Lawyer, partner in the law firm G. & J. Downer

Twice Premier of South Australia and Senator in the first Commonwealth Parliament, Sir John Downer was born in Adelaide in 1843. He excelled at school, trained as a lawyer, and at the age of 24 became a barrister. In 1878, Downer was elected to the House of Assembly, quickly establishing a strong presence in the Parliament. He acted as Attorney-General in the Bray ministry during the early 1880s, his progressive views on women's suffrage being reflected in his important role in the development of the Married Women's Property Act (1883).

He became Premier in 1885 and during the next two years struggled with issues surrounding the growing government deficit, troubled primary industries and general economic depression. In 1887 he attended the Imperial Conference in London, where he impressed as one of the Australian colonies' leading political and legal figures, resulting in him being knighted personally by Queen Victoria. Following the 1887 general election, Downer was unable to command sufficient support in the Lower House to re-form his government. He remained in Parliament and regained the Premiership in late 1892. A strong performance by the newly formed Labor Party in the April 1893 elections, however, saw the basically conservative approach of Downer again come into conflict with the necessity of co-operating with more progressive members of the Lower House. As a consequence, he was unable to continue his leadership of the government.

Downer continued as Opposition Leader for the remainder of the 1890s, a period which also saw him take an active interest in moves towards Federation. He was elected to the Senate in the first Commonwealth Parliament, later returning to South Australia in 1905 to sit on the Legislative Council, where he remained until his death in 1915.

Father of Sir Alick Downer, former Member of the House of Representatives (Angas), former minister in the Menzies Government and former High Commissioner to the UK. Grandfather of Alexander Downer, former Member of the House of Representatives (Mayo), former minister in the Howard Government and former High Commissioner to the UK.

Senator for South Australia 1901-03

02 August 1915