| Sir James Frederick Palmer | |
|---|---|
| 1st President of the Victorian Legislative Council | |
| In office November 1856 – September 1870 |
|
| Succeeded by | Sir William Henry Fancourt Mitchell |
| 3rd Mayor of Melbourne | |
| In office 1845–1846 |
|
| Preceded by | Henry Moor |
| Succeeded by | Henry Moor |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 June 1803 Torrington, United Kingdom |
| Died | 23 April 1871 (aged 67) Melbourne, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
Sir James Frederick Palmer (7 June 1803 – 23 April 1871) was a medical practitioner, Victorian pioneer, first President of the Victorian Legislative Council and former Mayor of Melbourne.
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Palmer was born in Great Torrington, Devonshire, England, the fourth son of the Rev. John Palmer (a nephew of Sir Joshua Reynolds),and his wife Jane, a daughter of William Johnson.[1] Palmer was trained in medicine, practised in London, and was surgeon at St Thomas's hospital. In 1824 Palmer became a house surgeon at St George's Hospital (M.A.C.S., 1826). In 1835-37, Palmer edited a four-volume edition, Works of John Hunter , the anatomist.[1] Palmer also supplied the glossary to A Dialogue in the Devonshire Dialect, written by his grandmother in the eighteenth century, but not published until 1837.
On 21 November 1831 Palmer married Isabella, third daughter of Dr John Gunning, C.B., who was inspector-general of hospitals at the time.[1] After failing to secure two surgical appointments, Palmer migrated to Melbourne, arriving at the end of September 1840, and in addition to practising his profession, was proprietor of a cordial manufactory and later, a wine merchant.[1]
Palmer was an early member of the Melbourne City Council and was elected Mayor of Melbourne in 1845. A mayor he laid the foundation-stone of the first Melbourne hospital building on 20 March 1846. In September 1848 Palmer was elected one of five members for Port Phillip District for the New South Wales Legislative Council, but resigned in June 1849.[1] When Victoria became a separate colony in 1851, Palmer was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Council and its speaker. When responsible government was granted Palmer became a candidate for the Council and was elected in 1856 for the Western Province. He was its first President and continued in that position until 1870, when he did not seek re-election to the Council on account of his failing health. Palmer died at Burwood, Melbourne, on 23 April 1871.[1] He was knighted in 1857.
Palmer was a good President of the council, took much interest in the Melbourne hospital, of which he was president for 26 years, and was also greatly interested in education. Palmer was president of the national board of education and subsequently of the board of education. Charles La Trobe described him as 'a gentleman by birth, education and profession. Sometimes he pulled against, more often for, but I always respected him as honest'.[1]