| Graham Berry | |
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11th Premier of Victoria
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| In office 7 August 1875 – 20 October 1875 |
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| Preceded by | George Kerferd |
| Succeeded by | James McCulloch |
| In office 21 May 1877 – 5 March 1880 |
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| Preceded by | James McCulloch |
| Succeeded by | James Service |
| In office 3 August 1880 – 9 July 1881 |
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| Preceded by | James Service |
| Succeeded by | Bryan O'Loghlen |
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| Born | 28 August 1822 London, England |
| Died | 25 January 1904 (aged 81) Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse | Harriet Ann Bencowe and Rebecca Evans |
| Religion | Anglican |
Sir Graham Berry, KCMG (28 August 1822 - 25 January 1904), Australian colonial politician, was the 11th Premier of Victoria. See Premiers of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Premier Events 322 BC - Battle of Crannon between Athens and Macedon following the death of Alexander the Great. Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common George Briscoe Kerferd ( 21 January 1831 - 31 December 1889) Australian colonial politician was the 10th Premier of Victoria James McCulloch is also the name of the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the Second National Bank of the United States Events 878 - Syracuse Italy is captured by the Muslim sultan of Sicily. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Events 363 - Roman Emperor Julian moves from Antioch with an army of 90000 to attack the Sassanid Empire, in a Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year James Service ( 27 November 1823 – 13 April 1899) Australian colonial Politician, was the 12th Premier of Victoria Events 8 - Roman Empire General Tiberius defeats Dalmatians on the river Bathinus. Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Sir Bryan O'Loghlen 3rd Baronet (pronounced and sometimes spelled Brian O'Lochlen ( 27 June 1828 – 31 October 1905) Australian Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George Events 475 - The Roman General Orestes forces western Roman Emperor Julius Nepos to flee his Capital Year 1822 (MDCCCXXII was a Common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting on Sunday of the Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. See Premiers of the Australian states for a description and history of the office of Premier He was one of the most Radical and colourful figures in the politics of colonial Victoria, and made the most determined efforts to break the power of the Victorian Legislative Council, the stronghold of the landowning class. The Legislative Council, or upper house is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Victoria, Australia.
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English Birth & Early Years
Berry was born in Twickenham, near London, where his father was a licensed victualler. Twickenham is a suburb in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames, in south west London. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Landlord is the owner of a House, Apartment, Condominium, or Real estate which is rented or Leased to an individual or business He had a primary education, then became an apprentice draper. Apprenticeship is a system of Training a new generation of practitioners of a skill Draper is the now largely obsolete term for a merchant in cloth or dry goods though often used specifically for one who owns or works in a draper's shop or store
Chartism & Migration
In London he was a sympathiser with Chartism. For chartism in financial markets see Technical analysis, and for the British socialist journal see Chartist (magazine Chartism was In 1852 he migrated to Victoria, and went into business as a grocer in Prahran, then as a general storekeeper in South Yarra. Year 1852 ( MDCCCLII) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Beginning as early as the 14th century a grocer (also called purveyor) was a dealer in comestible dry goods such as spices pepper sugar and (later cocoa tea and coffee Prahran (pronounced "pruh-RAN" also known colloquially as "Pran" is an Inner city Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, South Yarra is an Inner city Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. His business skills and Victoria's booming economy soon made him a wealthy man. In 1848 he married Harriet Blencowe, with whom he had thirteen children. Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap After her death he married, in 1871, Rebekah Evans, with whom he had another seven children. Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
In Victoria, Berry, by voracious reading, acquired the education he had missed in England, and taught himself economics, literature and philosophy. Economics is the social science that studies the production distribution, and consumption of goods and services. Literature is the Art of written works Literally translated the word means "acquaintance with letters" (from Latin littera letter Philosophy is the study of general problems concerning matters such as existence knowledge truth beauty justice validity mind and language But all his life he retained a broad London accent, (Cockney) which many Victorian conservatives found offensive or amusing. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations In Parliament he once asked the Speaker: "What is now before the 'Ouse?" To which the Leader of the Opposition interjected: "An H!" He developed a powerful rhetorical style modelled on that of his hero William Gladstone, equally effective in the rough-house of the colonial Parliament or on the hustings. A husting, or the hustings, was originally a physical platform from which representatives presented their views or cast votes before a parliamentary or other election body The conservative newspaper The Argus conceded: "His oratory might not be polished: it certainly was not—but it was passionate, and it told. The Argus was a morning daily Newspaper in Melbourne established in 1846 and closed in 1957. " Noted for his humour, Berry was nevertheless a tough and determined politician.
Political career
Berry was elected to the Legislative Assembly for East Melbourne at a by-election in 1861, as what The Argus called "an extreme liberal. The Legislative Assembly, or lower house is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of Victoria in Australia East Melbourne is an Inner city Suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common " At the general election later in the same year he switched to Collingwood, then famously the most radical electorate in the colony. Collingwood is an Inner city Suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was re-elected in 1864, but his criticism of James McCulloch's government during the tariff crisis of 1865 led to his defeat in that year's snap election. Year 1864 ( MDCCCLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year James McCulloch is also the name of the cashier of the Baltimore branch of the Second National Bank of the United States Year 1865 ( MDCCCLXV) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year
In 1866 Berry moved to Geelong, where he started a newspaper, the Geelong Register, as a rival to the established Geelong Advertiser. Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common MCite/Citephp.--> Geelong (dʒəˈlɔŋ is the second largest city in the state The Geelong Advertiser is a daily newspaper servicing Geelong, Victoria, Australia, the Bellarine Peninsula and surrounding areas When this proved unsuccessful, he bought the Advertiser, and made himself editor of the merged paper. Using the paper as a platform, he was elected for West Geelong in 1869. Year 1869 ( MDCCCLXIX) is a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year In 1877 he switched to Geelong, which he represented until 1886. Year 1877 ( MDCCCLXXVII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He was briefly Treasurer in John MacPherson's government in 1870. John MacPherson can refer to John Alexander MacPherson (1833&ndash1894 Australian politician Sir John Macpherson 1st Baronet (1745&ndash1821 Year 1870 ( MDCCCLXX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common When Charles Gavan Duffy formed a strong liberal government in June 1871, Berry again became Treasurer. Sir Charles Gavan Duffy, KCMG ( 12 April 1816 &ndash 9 February 1903) Irish nationalist and Australian Year 1871 ( MDCCCLXXI) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He was a convinced protectionist, and steered a bill for increased tariffs through the Parliament. For the protectionist Australian political party from the 1880s to 1909 see Protectionist Party For other uses of this word see Tariff (disambiguation. A tariff is a tax imposed on goods when they are moved across a political boundary
After the conservative interlude of the Francis and Kerferd governments, Berry assumed leadership of the liberals and became Premier and Treasurer in August 1875. James Goodall Francis ( 9 January 1819 &ndash 25 January 1884) Australian colonial politician was the 9th Premier George Briscoe Kerferd ( 21 January 1831 - 31 December 1889) Australian colonial politician was the 10th Premier of Victoria Year 1875 ( MDCCCLXXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common But the liberal majority in the Assembly was unreliable, and in October the government's budget was defeated and Berry resigned. He asked the Governor, Sir George Bowen, for a dissolution, but was refused. The Governor of Victoria is the representative in the Australian state of Victoria of Australia's monarch Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia The Right Hon Sir George Ferguson Bowen GCMG (2 November 1821 &ndash 21 February 1899 was a British colonial administrator whose appointments He then campaigned across the colony in opposition to the third McCulloch government. At the May 1877 election, with the powerful backing of the Melbourne Age under David Syme, he won a huge liberal majority in the Assembly and returned to office at the head of a radical ministry. The Age is a Broadsheet daily Newspaper, which has been published in Melbourne, Australia since 1854 David Syme ( October 2 1827 – February 14 1908) was an Scottish - Australian newspaper proprietor of The Age
Reforming Premier
Berry's election manifesto proposed a punitive land tax designed to break up the squatter class's great pastoral properties - about 800 men at this time owned most of Victoria's grazing lands. Land value taxation (LVT (or site value taxation) is an Ad valorem tax where only the value of land itself is taxed Squatting is the act of occupying an abandoned or unoccupied space or Building that the squatter does not own rent or otherwise have permission to use He also advocated a high tariff to foster local manufacturing, which threatened to harm the importing and banking interests. He promised that if the Council, which was elected on a limited property-based franchise, blocked his program, it would be "dealt with according to its deserts. " He described the Council as "a chamber which robs the people of the gold in the soil and the land God gave them. " Given that there was no mechanism in the Victorian Constitution to override the Council, this was taken by conservatives to be a threat of revolutionary violence.
In fact Berry was a devoted constitutional liberal and had no plans for illegal measures. But the Councillors were sufficiently alarmed to pass a modified version of Berry's land tax bill, despite the urgings of the ultra-conservative former Premier Sir Charles Sladen to reject it outright. Sir Charles Sladen, KCMG ( 28 August 1816 – 22 February 1884) Australian colonial Politician, was the 6th Berry, emboldened, next introduced a bill for the payment of members of the Assembly, which the trade unions were demanding so that working class candidates could be elected. Berry "tacked" the bill to the Appropriations Bill so that Council could not reject it without paralysing the Colony's finances. The Council resented this blackmail and at Sladen's urging rejected the bill.
With the two Houses deadlocked, Berry embarked on a public campaign of "coercion" against the Council. "We coerce madmen," he said, "We put them into lunatic asylums, and never was anything more the act of madmen than the rejection of the Appropriation Bill. " To bring matters to a head, on 8 January 1878 ("Black Wednesday") Berry's government began to dismiss public servants, starting with police and judges, arguing that without an Appropriations Bill they could not be paid. Year 1878 ( MDCCCLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Berry next brought in a bill to strip the Council of its powers, which the Council of course rejected.
For the next two years Berry clung to office while the colony was gripped with class conflict, including huge torchlit processions through Melbourne sponsored by The Age (pro-Berry) and The Argus (anti-Berry) - although, remarkably, there was almost no violence. Almost no legislation was passed and the administration ground to a halt as funds ran out. Berry's next tactic was to pass a bill through the Assembly stating that finance bills did not need to passed by the Council, but would become law when passed by the Assembly. Bowen thought this bill unconstitutional, but signed it on Berry's advice. When the Colonial Office learned of this, Bowen was recalled and the bill overturned.
Finally a compromise was reached, the payment of members bill was passed, and the sacked public servants were reinstated. Berry then introduced another bill to reduce the powers of the Council. When this was rejected, he decided to appeal directly to London. In 1879 Berry and another leading liberal, Charles Pearson, travelled to London to try and persuade the British Government to amend the Victorian Constitution in such a way as to reduce the power of the Council. Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Unfortunately for them, the Conservatives under Benjamin Disraeli were in power, and the Colonial Secretary, Sir Michael Hicks-Beach, refused to agree to Berry's requests. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. Benjamin Disraeli 1st Earl of Beaconsfield, KG, PC, FRS (born Benjamin D'Israeli; 21 December 1804 &ndash 19 April 1881 was Michael Edward Hicks Beach 1st Earl St Aldwyn ( 23 October 1837 - 30 April 1916) known as Sir Michael Hicks Beach Bt from 1854 to
Returning to Melbourne empty-handed, Berry was welcomed by huge crowds, but he found that the popularity of his government was declining and his majority in the Assembly was crumbling under the strain of the crisis. He tried to pass another bill to amend the Constitution, but in December 1879 it failed by one vote to gain the necessary two-thirds in the Assembly. Berry then resigned, and at the subsequent election he was very narrowly defeated. The conservatives under James Service formed a weak government, which resigned in June 1880, leading to another election, which the liberals won, though not as convincingly as they had done in 1877. James Service ( 27 November 1823 – 13 April 1899) Australian colonial Politician, was the 12th Premier of Victoria
Berry returned as Premier, but he formed a much more moderate ministry than the one which had fallen in 1879. Both sides were exhausted by the struggle, and in July 1881 a modest reform bill was passed, including some reforms of Council elections, but no concessions on the essential powers of the Council. Year 1881 ( MDCCCLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Berry, feeling he could do no more, resigned, and Bryan O'Loghlen formed another weak conservative government. Sir Bryan O'Loghlen 3rd Baronet (pronounced and sometimes spelled Brian O'Lochlen ( 27 June 1828 – 31 October 1905) Australian Later Berry accepted office as Chief Secretary and Postmaster-General in a coalition government led by Service, from 1883 to 1886. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common
Later years
In 1886 Berry resigned from Parliament and was appointed Victorian Agent-General in London, then an important and prestigious post. Year 1886 ( MDCCCLXXXVI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common He was lionised as a liberal hero in London, and made a KCMG, becoming Sir Graham Berry. The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George Prince Regent (later George Although he was now 70, he was not yet done with politics. Returning to Melbourne in 1892, just as the great post Gold Rush economic boom was collapsing and the colony entering a severe depression, he was elected for East Bourke Boroughs at the May 1892 elections. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers into the area of a dramatic discovery of commercial quantities of Gold. He was Treasurer in William Shiels's Liberal government, but the days of reforming liberalism in Victoria were over for the time being and he resigned in January 1893. William Shiels ( 3 December 1848 – 17 December 1904) Australian colonial Politician, was the 16th Premier of Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In October 1894 he was elected Speaker, a post he held until 1897, when he finally retired. Year 1894 ( MDCCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common
Berry was granted a pension by the Parliament, and devoted the remainder of his life to supporting the cause of Australian Federation. The federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate British self-governing colonies of New South Wales, Queensland, South In 1897 he was elected a Victorian delegate to the Constitutional Convention which drafted the Australian Constitution, mainly because of the support of The Age. Year 1897 ( MDCCCXCVII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Common In Australian history the term Constitutional Convention refers to four distinct gatherings The Constitution of Australia is the law under which the Australian Commonwealth Government operates At 75, however, he was too frail to contribute much except his prestige as one of the country's liberal heroes. He retired to the seaside with his enormous family, and died at St Kilda in 1904. St Kilda is an Inner city Suburb of the Victorian capital of Melbourne, Australia. Year 1904 ( MCMIV) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year starting on He was given a state funeral and eulogised by Prime Minister Alfred Deakin. The Prime Minister of Australia is the Head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia, holding office on commission from the Governor-General. Alfred Deakin (3 August 1856 – 7 October 1919 Australian politician was a leader of the movement for Australian federation and later second Prime Minister
The Age editorialised on Berry's death: "Sir Graham Berry had ten years of such storms as might well have daunted one less resolute. But he lived to see the triumph of almost all the great reforms he had fought for. " This was not strictly true, since the conservative domination of the Legislative Council lasted unbroken for nearly a century after his death, but Berry certainly deserved to be remembered as the most determined liberal politician in 19th century Victoria.
References
- Geoff Browne, A Biographical Register of the Victorian Parliament, 1900-84, Government Printer, Melbourne, 1985
- Don Garden, Victoria: A History, Thomas Nelson, Melbourne, 1984
- Kathleen Thompson and Geoffrey Serle, A Biographical Register of the Victorian Parliament, 1856-1900, Australian National University Press, Canberra, 1972
- Raymond Wright, A People's Counsel. A History of the Parliament of Victoria, 1856-1990, Oxford University Press, Melbourne, 1992
| Preceded by George Kerferd |
Premier of Victoria 1875 |
Succeeded by James McCulloch |
| Preceded by James McCulloch |
Premier of Victoria 1877–1880 |
Succeeded by James Service |
| Preceded by James Service |
Premier of Victoria 1880–1881 |
Succeeded by Bryan O'Loghlen |