James Boucaut facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
James Boucaut
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James Boucaut c. 1872
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| 11th Premier of South Australia | |
| In office 28 March 1866 – 3 May 1867 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Dominick Daly |
| Preceded by | John Hart |
| Succeeded by | Henry Ayers |
| In office 3 June 1875 – 6 June 1876 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Anthony Musgrave |
| Preceded by | Arthur Blyth |
| Succeeded by | John Colton |
| In office 26 October 1877 – 27 September 1878 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | William Jervois |
| Preceded by | John Colton |
| Succeeded by | William Morgan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 29 October 1831 Mylor, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 1 February 1916 (aged 84) Glenelg, South Australia, Australia |
Sir James Penn Boucaut (born 29 October 1831 – died 1 February 1916) was an important figure in South Australia. He was a politician and a judge. He served in the South Australian House of Assembly several times.
James Boucaut became Premier of South Australia three times. He was the youngest person ever to become Premier, at just 34 years old. He also held other important roles like Attorney-General (the government's chief legal advisor) and Treasurer (in charge of money). In 1878, he left politics to become a judge in the Supreme Court of South Australia, where he worked for 27 years.
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Early Life and Moving to Australia
James Boucaut was born in Mylor, Cornwall, England. His father, Captain Ray Boucaut, was a navy officer. James went to school in Saltash.
In 1846, when he was about 15, James moved with his family to South Australia. He first worked as a stockman, helping with livestock in the countryside. Later, he moved to Adelaide to study law.
Starting a Career in Law and Politics
James Boucaut became a lawyer in 1855. He was very good at his job. In 1861, he was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly. This is like being a member of parliament.
He became Attorney-General in 1865. Then, in 1866, he became the Premier for the first time. This meant he was the leader of the government.
Leading South Australia
Boucaut served as Premier three times. His first term was from 1866 to 1867. During this time, he worked on important government matters.
His second term as Premier was from 1875 to 1876. He focused on improving education and planned to build many new railways. Railways were very important for connecting towns and helping trade. He wanted to borrow a lot of money to build these projects.
His third term as Premier was from 1877 to 1878. During this time, he helped pass laws about land and continued to support railway expansion. He also worked on improving Victor Harbor, an important port.
Life as a Judge
In 1878, James Boucaut was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of South Australia. Many people thought he would miss politics, but he really enjoyed legal work. He was an excellent judge and served for 27 years until 1905.
He also acted as the chief judge when the main chief justice was away. Sometimes, he even acted as the deputy governor of South Australia.
James Boucaut always remembered his roots in Cornwall, England. He was active in the Cornish community in Adelaide. He also had a farm near Mount Barker where he bred beautiful Arabian horses.
Later Life and Legacy
James Boucaut retired from being a judge in 1905 because of his health. He passed away at his home in Glenelg in 1916, at the age of 84.
He was married to Janet McCulloch, and they had five sons and one daughter. James Boucaut was given the title K.C.M.G. in 1898, which is a special honor from the British Crown. He also wrote books, including one about Arabian horses and another about his travels in Europe.
