Robert Herbert facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Robert Herbert
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| 1st Premier of Queensland | |
| In office 10 December 1859 – 1 February 1866 |
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| Succeeded by | Arthur Macalister |
| Constituency | Leichhardt, West Moreton |
| In office 20 July 1866 – 7 August 1866 |
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| Preceded by | Arthur Macalister |
| Succeeded by | Arthur Macalister |
| Constituency | West Moreton |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Leichhardt |
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| In office 4 May 1860 – 12 June 1863 Serving with Charles Royds
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| Preceded by | New seat |
| Succeeded by | Gordon Sandeman |
| Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for West Moreton |
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| In office 13 June 1863 – 7 August 1866 Serving with Benjamin Cribb, Joshua Peter Bell
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| Preceded by | Henry Challinor |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Fleming |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 12 June 1831 Brighton, Sussex, England, United Kingdom |
| Died | 6 May 1905 (aged 73) Ickleton, Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom |
Sir Robert George Wyndham Herbert (born 12 June 1831 – died 6 May 1905) was a very important person in the history of Queensland, Australia. He was the very first Premier of the state. A Premier is like the leader of the government in a state or territory. When he became Premier, he was only 28 years old, making him the youngest person ever to lead an Australian state government.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Herbert was born in Brighton, England, on 12 June 1831. He was the only son of a noble family. He went to two famous schools, Eton and Balliol College at Oxford University.
He was a very smart student. At Oxford, he won several important scholarships and awards for his studies in classical subjects like Latin. After finishing his studies, he became a lawyer in 1858. Before that, in 1855, he worked as a private secretary for a famous British politician named William Ewart Gladstone. This job gave him good experience in government work.
Leading Queensland
In 1859, Queensland was becoming its own separate colony, no longer just a part of New South Wales. Sir George Bowen was chosen to be Queensland's first Governor. A Governor is the Queen's representative in a state. Sir George Bowen asked Robert Herbert to come with him to Australia as his private secretary.
They arrived in Brisbane on 10 December 1859. On that very day, Herbert was made the colonial secretary, which was a very high position in the new government. Soon after, in early 1860, Robert Herbert was elected to the Queensland Parliament. He then became the first Premier of Queensland.
He was a strong leader and stayed in power for a long time, from December 1859 to February 1866. During his time as Premier, the government passed many important laws, especially about land and education. The Governor even wrote that the Queensland Parliament passed more useful laws than any other Australian colony at that time.
However, when the colony faced some money problems, Herbert became less popular. He resigned in February 1866. Another politician, Arthur Macalister, took over as Premier. Herbert wanted to go back to England, but the Governor asked him to form another government for a short time. This second government lasted less than three weeks. After that, Herbert finally left for England. The experience he gained in Queensland was very helpful for his future career.
Working in England
After returning to England, Robert Herbert quickly found new important roles in the British government. He first worked for the Board of Trade. Then, in 1870, he started working for the Colonial Office, which was the government department that managed all of Britain's colonies around the world.
In 1871, he became the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies. This was a very important job, and he held it for 21 years. He was known for being fair and good at dealing with people. He helped manage the relationship between Britain and its many colonies.
For his excellent work, he received high honors from the Queen. In 1882, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (K.C.B.), and in 1892, he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (G.C.B.). He also became the head of the Order of St Michael and St George, another important honor. He retired from the Colonial Office in 1892 but came back for a few months to help out when asked.
Later Years and Legacy
In his later years, Robert Herbert had heart problems. He hoped a trip by sea would help him feel better, so he went on a cruise in the Mediterranean Sea. However, his health got worse, and he had to return to England. He passed away at his home in Ickleton, England, on 6 May 1905.
Robert Herbert never married. He once explained that he was happy and content with his life as it was.
His time in Queensland left a lasting mark:
- The suburb of Herston in Brisbane is named after a farm he shared with his friend John Bramston. They combined their names to create "Herston."
- The Herbert River in Far North Queensland was named after him in 1864 by an explorer named George Elphinstone Dalrymple.
- The federal voting area (or "electorate") of Herbert in Queensland, which has been around since the very first Australian federal election in 1901, is also named in his honor.
Images for kids
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Herston House, where Robert Herbert lived with John Bramston.
See also
- Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1860–1863
- Members of the Queensland Legislative Assembly, 1863–1867
