Sir Arthur Blyth KCMG (19 March 1823 – 15 February 1890) was premier of South Australia three times; 1864–1865, 1871–1872 and 1873-1875.
In 1850 he married Jessie Ann, daughter of Edward Forrest, who survived him with one son and two daughters. He was created KCMG in 1877 and C.B. in 1886. A good business man of great common sense Blyth was in eleven cabinets and was three times premier. It was, however, a difficult time for legislation and beyond the Torrens real estate act which Blyth supported, comparatively little important legislation was passed in his period.
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He was the son of William Blyth and his wife Sarah Wilkins, was born at Birmingham on 21 March 1823. His formative years were spent in Birmingham, England and he was educated at King Edward VI Grammar School, and arrived with his parents in South Australia in 1839 on the "Ariadne" at the age of 16. His father, who was appointed a Justice of the Peace and became a Councillor of the City Corporation in 1840, and afterwards one of the City Commissioners,[1] established an ironmongery business in Hindley Street, Adelaide, which Blyth entered with his brother Neville. He interested himself in municipal work and was a member of the central road board. In 1855 he was elected for Yatala in the old legislative council and assisted in framing the new constitution. Early in 1857 he was elected as one of the representatives of Gumeracha in the first house of assembly, and in August became commissioner of public works in the John Baker ministry which, however, was defeated on 1 September. On 12 June 1858 he was given the same position in the Hanson ministry, which remained in power until May 1860. In October 1861 he held the treasurer's portfolio in the Waterhouse ministry which, however, was reconstructed nine days later, when Blyth dropped out. He came back to the ministry, however, as treasurer in February 1862, and was selected as one of the three representatives of South Australia at the intercolonial conference held shortly afterwards.
On 4 August 1864 Blyth, taking the positions of premier and commissioner of crown lands and immigration, formed his first ministry, but it was difficult to do useful work, much time being wasted in no-confidence motions. Blyth resigned on 22 March 1865, was treasurer in the third ministry formed by Henry Ayers but was out of office again in little more than a month. In March 1866 he became chief secretary in James Boucaut's first ministry from March 1866 to May 1867. He was treasurer again in the first John Hart ministry in September 1868, but this ministry was defeated three weeks later. He took the position of commissioner of crown lands and immigration in the second Hart ministry, which lasted from 30 May 1870 to 10 November 1871, when Blyth formed his second ministry, but resigned only ten weeks later.
On 22 July 1873 he again became premier and this time took the portfolio of chief secretary. This ministry was a comparatively stable one and lasted until June 1875. It succeeded in doing something for immigration, and after a stern fight passed a free, secular, and compulsory education bill through the assembly. This was defeated in the council. It succeeded, however, in passing an act incorporating the University of Adelaide.
On 25 March 1876 Blyth became treasurer in the third Boucaut ministry which resigned less than three months later.
In February 1877 he was appointed agent-general for South Australia in London and held the position capably for many years. He was a councillor of the Oxford Military College in Cowley and Oxford Oxfordshire from 1876-1896. He was one of the representatives of South Australia at the 1887 colonial conference. He died in Bournemouth, England on 7 December 1891.[2]
The township of Blyth in the Mid North of South Australia, is named in his honour.
His brother, Neville Blyth (March 1825 – 15 February 1890) was some two years younger, [1] was also born in a suburb of Manchester, educated at King Edward's Grammar School under the Rev. Dr. Lee (later the first Bishop of Manchester), and with his family sailed to South Australia in 1839. Early in the forties Neville joined his brother Arthur at their father's ironmonger business, and the two were actively engaged in the trade up to 1865. At his father's death Neville Blyth was sole executor of his estate and, characteristically, first repaid debts his father had incurred in England but legally wiped out by his insolvency.[1]
He was elected a member of the House of Assembly for East Torrens at the general election in March 1860, as colleague of H. Mildred, represented that district during three Parliaments until July 1867, when he resigned rather than be forced to break a promise,[3] and was succeeded by Daniel Fisher. In April, 1868, he was elected to the fifth Parliament as member of the Assembly for the district of Encounter Bay, with W. Everard as his colleague. He was Treasurer from 21 September to 13 October 1868 in the Hart cabinet and tbe crisis that preceded the formation of Strangways' Government. Having represented Encounter Bay until the end of the fifth Parliament he was chosen by the District of Victoria to succeed W. Paltridge as the colleague of Park Laurie. In 1871 he stood for the District of Encounter Bay, but was defeated and decided to quit politics, but in March, 1877, he was elected member for North Adelaide to fill the vacancy left by his brother, now Sir Arthur Blyth, when he was appointed Agent General. In the last Boucaut Ministry, which lasted from 26 October 1877 until 27 September 1878, Neville Blyth was Minister of Education, and had as his colleagues J. P. Boucaut, Sir William Morgan, Charles Mann, G. C. Hawker and T. Playford. Forced by ill-health to return to England, he settled in Sutton in Surrey, living off the rents from his substantial South Australian properties. He died eleven years later.[1]
He was a communicant of the Church of England, but of liberal persuasion. He strongly opposed State aid to churches and fought for the rights of the working classes.[1]
He supported C. Emily Clark (sister of John Howard Clark) and Catherine Helen Spence in the formation of the "Boarding-out Society" for orphans.[4]
On 14 April 1852 he married Julia Barns of Everton[5] or Manchester during a trip to England. She survived him; they had no children.[1] He was survived also by three brothers — Sir Arthur, W. W. Blyth, of Gover Street, North Adelaide, who was more than five years his senior, and Howard Blyth of Edinburgh, Scotland.[1]
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Henry Ayers |
Premier of South Australia 4 August 1864 - 22 March 1865 |
Succeeded by Francis Dutton |
| Preceded by John Hart |
Premier of South Australia 10 November 1871 - 22 January 1872 |
Succeeded by Henry Ayers |
| Preceded by Henry Ayers |
Premier of South Australia 22 July 1873 - 3 June 1875 |
Succeeded by James Boucaut |
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