George Kerferd facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
George Briscoe Kerferd
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|---|---|
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| 10th Premier of Victoria | |
| In office 31 July 1874 – 7 August 1875 |
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| Preceded by | James Francis |
| Succeeded by | Graham Berry |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 January 1831 Liverpool, Lancashire, England |
| Died | 31 December 1889 (aged 58) Sorrento, Victoria, Australia |
| Resting place | St Kilda Cemetery |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Spouse |
Ann Martindale
(m. 1853) |
George Briscoe Kerferd (January 21, 1831 – December 31, 1889) was an important Australian politician. He served as the 10th Premier of Victoria, which means he was the leader of the government for the state of Victoria.
Contents
George Kerferd's Early Life and Career
George Kerferd was born in Liverpool, England. His father was a merchant. George went to school at the Collegiate Institute in Liverpool. He planned to study law, but he ended up working in his father's business instead.
In 1853, George moved to Victoria, Australia. He hoped to open a branch of his family's business there, but it didn't happen. He tried his luck as a gold miner in Bendigo. Later, he settled in Beechworth. There, he became a brewer and a wine merchant. He was even the mayor of Beechworth four times.
Family Life and Legal Studies
In 1853, George Kerferd married Ann Martindale. They had ten children together. Even though he didn't practice law right away, George was allowed to work as a lawyer in Melbourne in 1867.
George Kerferd's Political Journey
George Kerferd started his political career in November 1864. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the area called Ovens. He represented this area for many years, until February 1886.
Early Government Roles
While in politics, George also began studying law in 1864. He held several important positions in the government. In 1868, he was the Minister of Mines. He also served as the Solicitor-General from 1872 to 1874. In 1874, he became the Attorney-General.
Becoming Premier of Victoria
In July 1874, the government led by James Francis was defeated. George Kerferd then took over and became the new Premier of Victoria. His government was known for being conservative.
His Treasurer, James Service, wanted to remove certain taxes on goods (called tariffs). He suggested replacing this lost money with a tax on land and on drinks like beer and spirits. However, this idea didn't please landowners or businesses. Because of this, Kerferd's government was defeated in August 1875.
Later Political Roles and Judge Appointment
After his time as Premier, George Kerferd continued to serve in government. He was appointed Attorney-General again several times. This happened between 1875 and 1877, in 1880, and from 1883 to 1886. In 1883, he also represented Victoria at an important meeting about Australia's future as a united country.
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In 1886, George Kerferd left politics. On January 1, 1886, he was appointed as a judge to the Supreme Court of Victoria. Some people thought other lawyers might have deserved the position more. However, George had served eight years as Attorney-General, which was a lot of experience. Most people agreed that he was a very good judge.
George Kerferd served as a judge until he passed away in 1889. He was on holiday in Sorrento, Victoria when he died.
Places Named After George Kerferd
Today, you can find places named after George Kerferd. Kerferd Road in Albert Park is named after him. There is also Kerferd Road, which later became Kerferd Avenue, in Sorrento.
See also
- Judiciary of Australia
- List of Judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria
- Victorian Bar Association
