John Winthrop Hackett
Sir John Winthrop Hackett KCMG | |
---|---|
Chancellor of the University of Western Australia | |
In office 11 March 1912 – 19 February 1916 | |
Preceded by | New office |
Succeeded by | Charles Riley |
Member of the Western Australian Legislative Council | |
In office 29 December 1890 – 19 February 1916 | |
Preceded by | New office |
Succeeded by | John Ewing |
Constituency | South-West Province |
Personal details | |
Born | near Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland | 4 February 1848
Died | 19 February 1916 Perth, Western Australia, Australia | (aged 67)
Spouse | |
Children | 5, incl. Trinity College, Dublin |
Profession | Barrister Journalist Newspaper editor |
Sir John Winthrop Hackett Sr.
Early life
Hackett was born near
Career
Hackett took up journalism and contributed to the
At a later election Hackett was opposed to
The Western Mail was established in 1885 and both papers became prosperous. In 1887 Hackett became editor of The West Australian and was a strong advocate of responsible government. Western Australia received its constitution in 1890, and John Forrest selected Hackett as the first man to be asked to join the nominee Western Australian Legislative Council.[1]
The population of the colony was still under 50,000 but was beginning to rise, and the discovery of gold accelerated this. The newspapers grew with the population and became very valuable properties. Hackett, as editor, was writing a daily leading article, and was also the business manager.[citation needed]
In 1894, Hackett was elected to the Legislative Council as representative of the south-western province, and held this seat until his death. He was a delegate to the 1891 and 1897 Federal conventions, and was appointed a member of the constitutional committee. He was asked to join more than one ministry, but had to decline as it was impossible for him to add to the work he was already doing. He was also of the opinion that, as a newspaper editor, he would no longer be able to speak with the same freedom if he were in office. He advocated women's suffrage, and Western Australia was one of the early jurisdictions to give women the vote. He also strongly supported Forrest in his development policy, in the building of the pipe line to the goldfields, and the making of
The University of Western Australia opened in 1913 with Sir John as its first chancellor, and he gave it its first substantial private contribution when he endowed the chair of agriculture. Hackett's partner, Charles Harper, died in 1912, and Hackett acquired full ownership of the West Australian for £88,000. Hackett suffered from Parkinsonism and his health began to fail in 1915. He took a trip to the eastern states which appeared to have benefited him; however he died suddenly on 19 February 1916 of a heart condition and was buried in Karrakatta Cemetery.[citation needed]
Family
On 3 August 1905, Hackett married the 18-year-old Deborah Vernon Brockman (1887–1965). He confided in his political ally Walter James, "This is in the strictest sense a 'marriage de convenance' ".[3] The couple had four daughters, and a son also called John. John (1910–1997) also became Sir John Hackett, a popular and distinguished General in the British Army. After she was widowed, Lady Hackett remarried to become Lady Moulden, and finally – after an honorary doctorate and a further widowhood – married Basil Buller Murphy to become Dr. Deborah Buller Murphy.
A daughter Patricia Hackett (1908–1963) followed her father into the legal profession, and is today remembered for the Patricia Hackett Prize awarded by the University of Western Australia and endowed in her memory in 1965.[4]
Legacy
Hackett was awarded the honorary degree of
The suburb of Hackett, in inner North Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia bears his name, in recognition of his efforts to support the federation of the Australian colonies, which took place in 1901. Streets and a suburb in Perth are also named "Hackett" and "Winthrop".[citation needed]
The
Arms
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References
This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2014) |
- ^ MUP. pp. 150–153.
- ^ a b "CORRESPONDENCE". The West Australian. Vol. V, no. 367. Western Australia. 8 June 1883. p. 3. Retrieved 11 July 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
- ^ William Coleman,Their Fiery Cross of Union. A Retelling of the Creation of the Australian Federation, 1889-1914, Connor Court, Queensland, 2021, p. 64.
- ISBN 0 19 553381 X
- ^ "University intelligence". The Times. No. 36783. London. 2 June 1902. p. 9.
- ^ Glauert, Ludwig (1914). "The Mammoth Cave (continued)". Records of the Western Australian Museum and Art Gallery. 1: 244–251.
- ^ "Grants and Confirmations of Arms Vol. J". National Library of Ireland. p. 406. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
Further reading
- Collins, Alexander (2007). 'A Veritable Augustus': The Life of John Winthrop Hackett, Newspaper Proprietor, Politician and Philanthropist (1848–1916) (PDF) (Ph.D. thesis). Murdoch University.
- Serle, Percival (1949). "Hackett, John Winthrop". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
- Kimberly, W.B. (compiler) (1897). History of West Australia. A Narrative of her Past. Together With Biographies of Her Leading Men. Melbourne: F.W. Niven.