Name George Hawker | ||
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Died May 21, 1895, Medindie, South Australia, Australia | ||
George Charles Hawker (21 September 1818 – 21 May 1895) was an Australian settler and South Australian politician.
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Early life
Hawker was born in London, the second son of Admiral Edward Hawker and his first wife, Joanna Naomi, née Poore. He was educated partly on the continent, and he entered Trinity College, Cambridge, in 1836 (B.A.1841, M.A. 1854).
Career in Australia
Together with his brother Charles, Hawker went to South Australia in 1840 travelling aboard the Lysander. He had some capital to start with, and after trying two sites which were found to have insufficient water, established a sheep station some distance to the north of Adelaide (north of the Clare Valley), afterwards known as Bungaree. He had two brothers with him at first and all three soon adapted themselves to pioneer conditions; some of the early station buildings in fact were put up with their own hands. In 1841 they were members of a party of 10 that went out to reclaim a large number of sheep that had fallen into the hands of the aborigines. The aborigines heavily outnumbered them and they were fortunate in escaping with the loss of one horse with one member of their party wounded. Hawker eventually bought out his brothers and extended his land until he had some 80,000 acres (32,000 ha). Much attention was paid to the breeding of his sheep, and his wool gained a high reputation.
In 1851 Hawker was a candidate for Stanley in the South Australian Legislative Council, but was defeated. In January 1858 Hawker entered the South Australian House of Assembly as member for the district of Victoria, and in April 1860, though a comparatively young man and opposed by Boyle Travers Finniss and Francis Stacker Dutton, was elected Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly. He was successful in this position carrying out its duties with tact and dignity, and showing a good knowledge of parliamentary practice. He retired from parliament in 1865, went to England with his family, and did not return until 1874. He again entered parliament and, except for a few months, was a member until his death. He was twice asked to form a ministry and declined on each occasion, but several times held office. He was Treasurer of South Australia in the third Arthur Blyth ministry for a few days in 1875, and chief secretary in the second James Penn Boucaut ministry from March to June 1876. He was commissioner of public works in the third Boucaut ministry from October 1877 to September 1878, and held the same position in the William Morgan ministry until June 1881. In 1889 he visited India to inquire into the irrigation question, and on his return wrote a series of articles on this subject which appeared in the South Australian Register. He died on 21 May 1895 in Medindie; if he had lived a few days longer he would have been created K.C.M.G.; his widow's appeal for a posthumous award was approved by the Queen in September 1895, and she was known as Lady Hawker until her death.
Hawker held a leading position as a citizen of South Australia. Wealthy, and a good employer, he was much interested in the every day life of the colony, a follower of cricket, racing, and coursing, a supporter of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society (and its president from 1863 to 1864 and 1889 to 1890), and the Zoological Society. He was much respected in parliament through his long career of 26 years. In his earlier days Hawker was an excellent speaker who sometimes rose to eloquence, as an old man he contented himself with short speeches, which were, however, much to the point. He showed distinct administrative ability during his term as commissioner of public works.
Family
Admiral Edward Hawker (7 November 1782 – 8 June 1860), of Ashford Lodge, Petersfield married Joanna Naomi Poore. They were the parents and grandparents of several notable pioneers of the Colony of South Australia:
George Charles Hawker married Elizabeth "Bessie" Seymour ( – June 1901) on On 16 December 1845, daughter of Henry Seymour, pastoralist at Naracoorte. Her younger sister Jane married pastoralist and politician William Spence Peter in 1856. George was about to be knighted when he died, consequently Bessie was granted the rank of the widow of a knight. Lady Hawker died in June 1901. They had six sons and six daughters, including:
His brother James Collins Hawker (c. 1821–1901) arrived in SA aboard Pestonjee Bomanjee in October 1838. He became Comptroller of Customs at Port Adelaide and married Louisa, daughter of Captain Lipson.
Another brother (fourth son of Edward Hawker) Charles Lloyd Hawker (c. 1827 – 3 April 1861) also arrived September 1840 aboard Lysander. He married Emma Jane Digby ( – ) in England on 15 October 1850 and returned to Adelaide aboard Success in February 1851. Also aboard Success was his brother Alfred and (sister?) a Miss Hawker. He founded Anama sheepstud; died in Adelaide while he and his family were preparing to return to England.
The youngest brother Alfred Hawker (10 January 1831 – 10 February 1868) arrived aboard Success in February 1851. He made numerous trips between England and South Australia, and died at sea aboard St Leonards while en route to London. He never married.
The distinguished Australian aviation pioneer Harry Hawker was not a near relative.