William Giles (South Australian Company Colonial Manager)

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William Giles (27 December 1791 - 1862) was an English company manager and politician, born in Great Staughton, Huntingdonshire, England.

Contents

[edit] Travel to South Australia

An apparently close friend of one of the founders of the South Australian Company, George Fife Angas, Giles travelled to South Australia on the ship Hartley in 1837 accompanied by his new (pregnant) wife, Emily (nee McGeorge) and their 1 year old daughter Emily jnr.

The Hartley was a three-masted vessel measuring 27.13 x 7.19 x 5.61 metres built at Sunderland near Newcastle, England in 1836. Her owner and captain was Thomas Fewson.[1] William's new family (Emily, Emily jnr and George) was also accompanied by William's nine children from his earlier marriage to Sarah (nee Roper).[2] Emily gave birth to her second child, George Hartley Giles during the voyage.[3]

[edit] Family life

Once in South Australia, William and Emily had a further ten children.[4]

[edit] Business life

Giles was appointed as the third colonial manager of the South Australian Company in January 1841.[4] He continued as manager until 1861, when he retired.

[edit] Political life

Giles was elected as member for the District of Yatala for five sessions of the South Australian Legislative Council, from July 1851 until 1854.[5] As a legislator, he opposed state aid to religion, despite being a zealous Congregationalist.[6]

[edit] References

  1. ^ SA Memory
  2. ^ SA Memory
  3. ^ [ http://www.samemory.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?c=5146&mode=singleImage. Passenger list for the Hartley], Giles' family are passengers 1 to 12.
  4. ^ a b Tregenza, John (1966). Giles, William (1791 - 1862). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Australian National University. Retrieved on 2008-02-24.
  5. ^ http://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/NR/rdonlyres/74AD1923-E18A-4D76-A464-6A3834ADA934/9533/StatisticalRecordoftheLegislature1836to20092.pdf
  6. ^ John Blacket (1907). The Early History of South Australia: A Romantic Experiment in Colonization. Methodist Book Depot. 
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