Henry Ayers facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Henry Ayers
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| 8th Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 15 July 1863 – 4 August 1864 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Dominick Daly |
| Preceded by | Francis Dutton |
| Succeeded by | Sir Arthur Blyth |
| In office 20 September 1865 – 23 October 1865 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Dominick Daly |
| Preceded by | Francis Dutton |
| Succeeded by | Captain John Hart |
| In office 3 May 1867 – 24 September 1868 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Dominick Daly |
| Preceded by | Sir James Boucaut |
| Succeeded by | Captain John Hart |
| In office 13 October 1868 – 3 November 1868 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir James Fergusson |
| Preceded by | Captain John Hart |
| Succeeded by | Henry Strangways |
| In office 22 January 1872 – 22 July 1873 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir James Fergusson Sir Anthony Musgrave |
| Preceded by | Sir Arthur Blyth |
| Succeeded by | Sir Arthur Blyth |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 May 1821 Portsea, Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK |
| Died | 11 June 1897 (aged 76) Adelaide, South Australia |
Sir Henry Ayers (pronounced "airs") GCMG (May 1, 1821 – June 11, 1897) was a very important leader in South Australia. He served as the eighth Premier of South Australia a record five times between 1863 and 1873. A Premier is like the head of the government for a state.
You might know his name from Ayers Rock, a famous landmark in Australia. It was named after him in 1873 by an explorer named William Gosse.
Contents
Early Life and Mining Career
Henry Ayers was born on May 1, 1821, in Portsea, England. His father, William Ayers, worked at the Portsmouth dockyard. Henry went to school at the Beneficial Society's School in Portsea. In 1832, he started working in a law office.
In 1840, Henry Ayers moved to South Australia with his wife, Anne. He came as a carpenter. For five years, he worked as a law clerk.
The "Monster Mine"
In 1845, Henry Ayers became the secretary of the South Australian Mining Association. This company owned the Burra Burra copper mines. These mines were very important. Within a year, over 1,000 men worked there.
Henry Ayers was in charge of this mine for almost 50 years. He started as the secretary and later became the managing director. He became very wealthy from the Burra Burra Copper Mines. These mines were known as the "Monster Mine" because they were so big and successful. They helped make the colony of South Australia rich.
Political Career
On March 9, 1857, Henry Ayers was elected to the first South Australian Legislative Council. This was a big step for South Australia's government. He was the youngest member elected at the time. He stayed a member of the Council for over 36 years.
Representing South Australia
Henry Ayers often represented South Australia at important meetings. In March 1863, he was one of three people chosen to attend a conference about trade rules between the colonies. He also went to several other conferences from 1864 to 1877. These meetings helped shape how the different Australian colonies worked together.
Serving as Premier
Henry Ayers became the Premier of South Australia for the first time on July 15, 1863. He also served as the Chief Secretary of South Australia. The government at that time was often divided, making it hard to get things done.
He served as Premier a total of five times:
- July 1863 to August 1864
- September 1865 to October 1865
- May 1867 to September 1868
- October 1868 to November 1868
- January 1872 to July 1873
Even though his terms were sometimes short, he was a key figure in South Australian politics. He also held the position of Chief Secretary in other governments.
President of the Legislative Council
In 1881, Henry Ayers was elected President of the South Australian Legislative Council. He held this important role until December 1893. He was known for doing his job well and fairly.
Henry Ayers passed away in Adelaide on June 11, 1897. He was recognized for his service with several honors. He became a CMG in 1870, a KCMG in 1872, and a GCMG in 1894. These are special awards given by the British Crown.
Legacy and Contributions
Besides his work in mining and politics, Henry Ayers was involved in many other important organizations. He was a member and chairman of the board of trustees for the Savings Bank of South Australia for many years.
He was also the first Chairman of the South Australian Gas Company. From 1862, he was a governor of the Adelaide Botanic Gardens. He was also president of the South Australian Old Colonists' Association. For many years, he was on the council of the University of Adelaide.
Henry Ayers was in parliament for an amazing 37 years without a break. He had a lot of influence in South Australian politics.
Ayers House
Henry Ayers lived in Ayers House in Adelaide from 1855 until he died in 1897. He expanded the house from 9 rooms into a large mansion in the 1860s.
During his time in parliament, Ayers House was used for important government meetings and grand social events. It is now a historic landmark.
Family
Henry Ayers married Anne Potts (1812 – August 13, 1881) around 1839. Anne was the sister of the famous winemaker Frank Potts. Henry and Anne had six children who survived:
- Frank Richman Ayers (1842 – April 23, 1906)
- Henry "Harry" Lockett Ayers (1844–1905), who married Ada Fisher Morphett in 1866.
- Frederick "Fred" Ayers (1847 – February 1, 1897), who married Evelyn Cameron Page in 1870. He was a well-known member of the South Australian Jockey Club.
- Margaret Elizabeth Ayers (1848 – September 19, 1887), who married Arthur Robert Lungley in 1875.
- (Arthur) Ernest Ayers (1852 – April 2, 1921), who married Barbara Agnes Milne in 1878. Barbara was the daughter of politician William Milne.
- Lucy Josephine Ayers (1856 – May 11, 1945), who married John Bagot in 1878. John was the grandson of Charles Hervey Bagot.
See also
In Spanish: Henry Ayers para niños
