Marshall Waller Clifton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Waller Clifton
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
Marshall Waller Clifton
1 November 1787 Alverstoke, Hampshire, England
|
| Died | 10 April 1861 (aged 73) Australind, Western Australia, Australia
|
| Spouse(s) | Elinor Bell (1811–61; his death) |
| Children | 15 |
Marshall Waller Clifton (born November 1, 1787 – died April 10, 1861) was an important English government worker. He also helped set up a new settlement in Western Australia and later became a politician there. People often called him Waller Clifton.
Contents
Life and Early Career
Marshall Waller Clifton was born on November 1, 1787, in Alverstoke, a town near Gosport in Hampshire, England. His parents were Rev. Francis Clifton and Rebekah Katherine Clifton.
When he was 18, Marshall Clifton started working for the British Admiralty, which managed the Royal Navy. He worked his way up, becoming a first-class clerk by 1819.
On July 2, 1811, Clifton married Elinor Bell. Elinor was a cousin and close friend of Elizabeth Fry, a famous reformer who worked to improve prisons. Marshall and Elinor had 15 children together, though one died when they were a baby.
In 1822, Clifton became the secretary for the Victualling Board, which was in charge of supplying food and other items to the Royal Navy. He was also chosen as a member of the Royal Society in 1828, which is a group for important scientists. When his job at the Victualling Board ended in 1832, he retired with a pension and moved his family to France for eight years.
Moving to Australia
In 1840, a group of important people in London started the Western Australian Land Company. Their goal was to create a large new settlement in the Swan River Colony (which is now Western Australia). This plan was based on ideas from Edward Gibbon Wakefield, who had special ways of thinking about how colonies should be set up.
Marshall Clifton was chosen to be the Chief Commissioner for this new project. His son, Robert Williams Clifton, became his secretary. The new settlement was named Australind, which is a mix of "Australia" and "India." The hope was to create a trading link between these two places.
The Journey to Australind
Clifton, his family, and other first settlers sailed to Australia on a ship called the Parkfield. They left England in October 1840 and arrived at Port Leschenault (near Bunbury) on March 18, 1841.
Soon after arriving, Clifton was appointed as a magistrate and a Justice of the Peace. This meant he could help with legal matters and keep order. The official approval for the Australind settlement came on April 6, 1842. Clifton received a piece of land at 15 Clifton Road, which he named "Alverstoke." The original house he built there still stands today.
Challenges and Collapse
Unfortunately, the Western Australian Land Company faced many problems and eventually collapsed in 1843. This meant that the company stopped all its operations in Western Australia within three years. The settlers who had come to Australind were left to manage on their own.
Despite these difficulties, Marshall Clifton's children became very important members of society in the areas of Bunbury, Australind, and Brunswick. Many of them held important jobs, like Resident Magistrate, Inspector of Water Police, and Collector of Customs. Later, three of Clifton's grandsons held very senior government positions at the same time: the Under Secretary for Lands, the Under Treasurer, and the Surveyor General. By 1897, about 20 of his grandchildren worked in important roles for the Government of Western Australia.
Later Life and Legacy
Elinor Clifton, Marshall's wife, even brought a special building from England. It was a pre-made house, possibly a "Manning's portable cottage," which she hoped would be used as a meeting place for "Friends" (a religious group).
In 1847, Clifton moved to Upton House. The bricks for this house had been brought from England as heavy cargo on a ship. They were originally meant for a house for Elizabeth Fry, but after she passed away, her husband sold them to Clifton.
In 1844, Clifton was appointed to the Leschenault Road Board, which helped manage local roads. In 1851, he became a member of the Western Australian Legislative Council. This was like being a member of parliament. He became known for standing up for the rights of small landholders, which sometimes caused disagreements with the larger landholders and business owners in the colony. He stayed in the Legislative Council until he was 71, retiring in 1858.
Marshall Waller Clifton passed away at Upton House on April 10, 1861, after being sick for a long time. His obituary (a notice about his death) in a local newspaper said that he was a very active and smart member of the Legislative Council. It also mentioned that he was excellent at gardening and farming, and that he was a very welcoming and friendly person. He was a loving family man, and many people missed him greatly.
Family Connections
Marshall Waller Clifton and his wife Elinor Bell had many children who also became important figures in Western Australia. Some of their notable children and grandchildren include:
- Louisa Clifton (1814–1880) married George Eliot, who was a nephew of Sir James Stirling, the first Governor of Western Australia. Their son, Laurence Stirling Eliot, became the Under-Treasurer.
- William Pearce Clifton (1816–1885) was a farmer and a resident magistrate in Bunbury. He was also known for his photographs of Fremantle in the late 1860s.
- Robert Williams Clifton (1817–1897) lived at Upton House in Australind. Many of his children and grandchildren became farmers, police inspectors, or held other important roles in the community.
- His granddaughter, Jessie Christina Clifton (1876–1959), was a nurse who did valuable work during World War I.
- Mary Clifton (1822–1893) was known for her sketches. Her son, Harry Johnston, became the Surveyor-General of Western Australia. Harry's son, Edgar Johnston, was a fighter pilot and a pioneer in civil aviation.
- George Clifton (1823–1913) was a water police officer and collected plants. He later became the governor of Portland and Dartmoor prisons in England.
- Charles Hippuff Clifton (1827–1890) was a public servant for many years.
- Leonard Worsley Clifton (c. 1830–1895) was the Collector of Customs.
By 1979, Marshall Waller Clifton had over 2,100 descendants, showing how much his family grew and contributed to Western Australia.
