William Henry Fancourt Mitchell

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For other persons named Henry Mitchell, see Henry Mitchell (disambiguation).

Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell KB (1811 – 24 February 1884) was an Australian politician.

Mitchell was the son of the Rev. George Mitchell of Leicester, England. He came to Tasmania in January 1833 on the Sir Thomas Munro and entered the government service, in 1839 was assistant colonial secretary. He crossed to Victoria in 1842, and taking up land in the Kyneton and Mount Macedon districts became a large proprietor. He entered the old Victorian Legislative Council in 1852, and shortly afterward, at the request of Charles La Trobe, became chief commissioner of police. Mitchell encouraged the enlistment of a good class of man, and succeeded in successfully reorganizing the force and practically stamping out bushranging. He then resigned his position, paid a visit to England, and on his return, towards the end of 1855, was elected a member of the Victorian legislative council as one of the members for the north-western province. He was defeated at an election held in 1858 but was returned at the next election, and held the seat until his death. He was honorary minister in the first William Haines ministry from 28 November 1855 to 1 March 1857, postmaster-general in the second Haines ministry from 29 April 1857 to to March 1858, and showed himself to be an able administrator.

Mitchell was minister for railways in the John O'Shanassy ministry from 30 December 1861 to 27 June 1863 but did not hold office again. During the conflict between the assembly and the council Mitchell was one of the leaders of the council, and in 1868 was responsible for the act which reduced the qualification of council members and electors. He was elected president of the council in 1870, and carried out his duties with ability, decision and courtesy. In the struggle with the assembly he fought well for the privileges of the council, and advocated that the qualifications for both members and electors should be further reduced. He died at Barfold near Kyneton after a short illness on 24 November 1884. He was knighted in 1875. He married Christina, daughter of Andrew Templeton, and was survived by children.