John Morphett , a supporter of Edward Gibbon Wakefield and an investor in the South Australian Company, arrived in 1836. Morphett assisted in the survey of Adelaide, securing valuable land for his family and clients. He helped found several cultural and economic bodies and supported Commissioner James Fisher in his dispute with Governor John Hindmarsh. A nominee in the old Legislative Council, Morphett advocated a hereditary upper house and economic freedom from England; he was elected speaker, 1851–1855. Returned to the first fully elected Legislative Council from 1857–1873, he served as president after 1865 and was knighted in 1870. Briefly Premier Thomas Reynolds’s chief secretary, he resigned to avoid association with judge Benjamin Boothby’s dismissal.
Media
This entry was first published in The Wakefield companion to South Australian History edited by Wilfrid Prest, Kerrie Round and Carol Fort (Adelaide: Wakefield Press, 2001). Edited lightly. Uploaded 14/9/2015.
Cite this
Carol Fort, ‘John Morphett’, SA History Hub, History Trust of South Australia, https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/people/john-morphett/
Links
Reference WebsiteAustralian Dictionary of Biography
I never knew who our suburb was named after until now and I have lived here for twelve years since I was born and I think that the history information is pretty cool. PS I love this website it is very organised.
Thanks for that feedback Georgia, glad you found the site of interest.