Sir Richard Butler (3 December 1850 – 28 April 1925) was an Australian politician. He was a member of the

South Australian House of Assembly The House of Assembly (also known as the lower house) is one of two chambers of the Parliament of South Australia, the other being the Legislative Council. It sits in Parliament House in the state capital, Adelaide. Overview The House of Assem ...

from 1890 to 1924, representing Yatala (1890–1902) and Barossa (1902–1924). He served as

Premier of South Australia The premier of South Australia is the head of government in the state of South Australia, Australia. The Government of South Australia follows the Westminster system, with a Parliament of South Australia acting as the legislature. The premier i ...

from March to July 1905 and

Leader of the Opposition The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...

from 1905 to 1909. Butler would also variously serve as Speaker of the House of Assembly (1921–1924), and as a minister under Premiers

Charles Kingston Charles Cameron Kingston (22 October 1850 – 11 May 1908) was an Australian politician. From 1893 to 1899 he was a radical liberal Premier of South Australia, occupying this office with the support of Labor, which in the House of Assembly ...

, John Jenkins and

Archibald Peake Archibald Henry Peake (15 January 1859 – 6 April 1920) was an Australian politician. He was Premier of South Australia on three occasions: from 1909 to 1910 for the Liberal and Democratic Union, and from 1912 to 1915 and 1917 to 1920 for ...

. His son,

Richard Layton Butler Sir Richard Layton Butler KCMG (31 March 1885 – 21 January 1966) was the 31st Premier of South Australia, serving two disjunct terms in office: from 1927 to 1930, and again from 1933 to 1938. Early life Born on a farm near Gawler, South Aust ...

, went on to serve as Premier from 1927 to 1930 and 1933 to 1938.

Early life

Richard Butler was born at Stadhampton, near

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...

, elder son of Richard Butler, ''père'' and his wife Mary Eliza, ''née'' Sadler. They emigrated with their two children Mary and Richard to

South Australia South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a States and territories of Australia, state in the southern central part of Australia. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories by area, which in ...

, arriving in Adelaide on 8 March 1854, following Richard ''père''s brother Philip, who emigrated fourteen years earlier, made a fortune as a pastoralist and landowner, established Mallala sheep station, and built a two-storey homestead on his property Yattalunga station (also spelled "Yatalunga"), near Gawler, then returned to England in December 1857. Richard ''père'' took over management of "Mallala" and "Yattalunga", where the growing family (see below) lived until around 1870. Young Richard was educated at

St Peter's College, Adelaide St Peter's College (officially The Anglican Church of Australia Collegiate School of Saint Peter, but commonly known as Saints) is an Private school, independent Anglican Church of Australia, Anglican Primary school, primary and Secondary school ...

, then spent many years as a farmer and grazier. He was a Justice of the Peace before he was 30.

Political career

Butler attempted to enter parliament early in 1890 when he stood for Yatala but was defeated. A few months later he won the seat at a by-election caused by the death of James Cowan. On 13 April 1898 he succeeded Cockburn as minister of agriculture in the

Kingston Kingston may refer to: Places * List of places called Kingston, including the six most populated: ** Kingston, Jamaica ** Kingston upon Hull, England ** City of Kingston, Victoria, Australia ** Kingston, Ontario, Canada ** Kingston upon Thames, ...

ministry which resigned in December 1899. Yatala was abolished in 1902 and Butler represented Barossa from 3 May 1902 to 4 April 1924. Butler became the parliamentary leader of an informal group of country members supported by the Farmers and Producers Political Union in 1904. Butler was treasaurer in the Jenkins ministry from 15 May 1901 to 1 March 1905, and was also Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration from 1 April 1902 to 1 March 1905. Jenkins then went to London as agent-general. Butler succeeded him as Premier, still keeping his previous portfolios. His ministry was defeated soon after the 1905 election where Labor formed government under Thomas Price and retained government at the 1906 election, relegating Butler to opposition until a year before the 1910 election, when Labor lost government resulting from Price's death. The

Liberal and Democratic Union The Liberal and Democratic Union (LDU) was a South Australian political party formed by early liberals, as opposed to the conservatives. It was formed in 1906 when liberal party structures were becoming more solid. Its leader, Archibald Peake, ...

(LDU) insisted on taking the premiership. On 22 December 1909 Butler joined the first Peake LDU ministry as Treasurer and Minister for the

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (abbreviated as NT; known formally as the Northern Territory of Australia and informally as the Territory) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian internal territory in the central and central-northern regi ...

, but the ministry was defeated following the 1910 election. Following the 1912 election, Butler was Commissioner of Public Works in the second Peake ministry from 17 February 1912 to 10 November 1914 and Minister of Mines and of Marine from 17 February 1912 to 3 April 1915. The Peake government was defeated at the 1915 election, however Labor split over

conscription Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it conti ...

in 1917 which brought down the government. Butler was Treasurer once again and Minister of Railways in Peake's third ministry from 14 July 1917 to 7 May 1919, and Minister of Agriculture 19 December 1918 to 7 May 1919. Butler left the ministry in controversial circumstances. The report of the Royal Commission on the Wheat Scheme appeared to reflect on the actions of Butler while he was the minister in charge of it, and Peake asked Butler to resign. He refused to do so because he considered that that would admit the justice of the charges. The Executive Council, on the advice of the government, thereupon dismissed Butler from his offices. The report of another royal commission presented some 14 months later was, however, accepted as clearing him of guilt; also the fact that he was elected

Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly The Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly is the presiding officer of the South Australian House of Assembly, the lower house of the Parliament of South Australia. The other presiding officer is the President of the South Australian ...

in 1921 suggests there had been injustice. Butler was defeated in his seat at the 1924 election after having represented the same district area for 34 years.

Late life

At the beginning of 1925 Butler went on a trip to England and died at

South Croydon South Croydon in south London is the area surrounding the valley south of central Croydon and running as far south as the former Red Deer public house on the Brighton Road. It is bounded by Waddon to the West and Selsdon and Sanderstead to the E ...

on 28 April 1925. Butler was made a

knight bachelor The title of Knight Bachelor is the basic rank granted to a man who has been knighted by the monarch but not inducted as a member of one of the organised Order of chivalry, orders of chivalry; it is a part of the Orders, decorations, and medals ...

in 1913. He had married Helena Kate Layton in 1878 and Ethel Pauline Finer in 1894, who survived him. He had eight children by his first marriage and three by his second. Butler's son,

, was twice premier of South Australia (1927–30 and 1933–38). His great-great-grandson

Mark Butler Mark Christopher Butler (born 8 July 1970) is an Australian politician. He is a member of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) and has served in the Australian House of Representatives, House of Representatives since 2007. He was a minister in the ...

is a

Labor Labour or labor may refer to: * Childbirth, the delivery of a baby * Labour (human activity), or work ** Manual labour, physical work ** Wage labour, a socioeconomic relationship between a worker and an employer ** Organized labour and the labour ...

member of the

Australian House of Representatives The House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameralism, bicameral Parliament of Australia, the upper house being the Australian Senate, Senate. Its composition and powers are set out in Chapter I of the Constitution of Australia. ...

Family

Richard Butler

Richard Butler (c. 1812 – 9 June 1887) married Mary Eliza Sadler (c. 1822 – 18 June 1898), arrived in South Australia March 1854 *Mary Butler (c. 1849 – 13 August 1899) married Rev. John Garlick Pitcher (1842 – 27 September 1900) on 16 August 1877. He previously married Elizabeth Charlotte Catherine Smyth-Blood (c. 1849 – 20 July 1870) on 7 November 1867. Their family included: :*John Blood Pitcher (1870–1949) accountant, auditor for Thebarton Town Council :*Richard Charles Pitcher (1878 – 18 May 1919) actor, elocutionist, headmaster in South Africa. :*Margaret Mary Pitcher (1880– ) :*Alice Catherine Pitcher (1884– ) :*Cyril Frederick Pitcher MD (1887–1955) :*May Eleanor Gertrude Pitcher (1889– ) :*Ronald Oswine (later Oswin) Pitcher (1892–1971) chairman of

Municipal Tramways Trust The Municipal Tramways Trust (MTT) was established by the Government of South Australia in December 1906 to purchase all of the horse-drawn tramways in Adelaide, South Australia. The Trust subsequently also ran petrol and diesel buses and elect ...

1944– *Sir Richard Butler (3 December 1850 – 28 April 1925) married Helena Kate Layton ( – 17 April 1893) on 2 January 1878; they had eight children; he married again to Ethel Pauline Finey (1864 – 16 July 1952) on 7 June 1894; they had three more children. :*Col. Charles Philip Butler (16 July 1880 – 25 September 1953) agricultural editor for '' The Advertiser'' :*Helen Margaret Butler (16 May 1882 – ) married Rev John Stoward Moyes in 1909. He became Archdeacon of Adelaide and Bishop of Armidale ::*Helena Margaret Moyes (1910– ) ::*Guy Stoward Moyes (1915–2004) ::*Peter Morton Moyes (1917– ) ::*Philip Richard Moyes (1918– ) ::*Monica Mary Moyes (1924– ) :*second daughter Mary Acres Butler ( – 13 June 1974) married Rev. Herbert Ramsden Cavalier (1877–1965) on 13 January 1915 :*Sir

(31 March 1885 – 21 January 1966) married Maude Isabel Draper (23 July 1883 – ) on 4 January 1908 ::*Mary Helen "Mollie" Butler (1908–1993) married Capt. John Neil McEwin (14 July 1907 – 1993) on 19 August 1931. Capt. McEwin was a great-grandson of George McEwin (1815–1885). ::*Jean Kate Butler (20 September 1909 – ) married Ian Eversley Thomas (1902–1970) in 1937 ::*Richard Charles Layton Butler (30 March 1917 – 1987) married Patricia Marie Tardrew (1920–1998) on 5 June 1944 :*Guy Theodore Butler (7 February 1888 – 23 July 1948) married Gladys Seymour Keay ( – 26 January 1941) on 11 January 1917 :*third daughter Dorothy Kate "Dolly" Butler (27 July 1889 – 1964) married lawyer Charles Mortimer Muirhead (1857 – 23 September 1938) on c. 1 May 1913. He was the father of Henry Mortimer Muirhead (see below) :*Kathleen Sarah Agnes "Kate" Butler (28 October 1891 – 1968) married Henry Mortimer Muirhead (31 July 1885 – 2 September 1951) on 29 December 1923 :*Ruth Ethel Muriel Butler (20 January 1897 – c. September 1976 in Terrigal, NSW) married Lieut. Cyril William Goodman (30 December 1893 – 1978) on 28 April 1917. He was a son of Sir William Goodman (1872–1961), managing director and chief engineer of the

. *Kate Lisette "Katie" Butler (1855 – 17 July 1929) married Frederick Taylor Whitington (13 June 1853 – 30 November 1938) on 1 October 1878 *(Jane) Agnes Butler (1857 – 17 January 1943) was a nurse, lived at 58 Anglesea Street,

Hobart Hobart ( ) is the capital and most populous city of the island state of Tasmania, Australia. Located in Tasmania's south-east on the estuary of the River Derwent, it is the southernmost capital city in Australia. Despite containing nearly hal ...

*Helen Margaret "Nellie" Butler (1860 – 23 September 1949) lived with her widowed mother at Brighton, died at home of nephew Cyril Pitcher, 59 Dutton Terrace, Medindie. *Henry Herbert "Harry" Butler (1861 – 8 February 1939) married Lillie Muriel Rudall (1866 – 14 July 1954) on 7 April 1885. He was town clerk of Strathalbyn; contested seat of Murray 1920 *Daniel Frederick "Dan" Butler (1864 – 25 August 1928) married Susan Maude/Maud Angus ( – 1949) in 1904

Philip Butler

Richard's brother Philip Butler (c. 1822–1899) arrived on vessel ''John'' in February 1840 and was associated with A. W. Thorold Grant. in running sheep on a large property in the Hundred of Munno Para and at Mudla Wirra; leased "Mallala" inc. Gawler; married Matilda Roe on 13 September 1849. He built a large two-storey house on his property "Yattalunga" (frequently "Yatalunga"), later occupied by his brother Richard. Philip and his family returned to England, where Matilda died on 12 April 1862. He married again to Margaret Chesshyre on 2 July 1863, returned to South Australia briefly then retired to England. Their children were: *Matilda Mary Butler (born 30 July 1850; died young) *Edith Lucille Butler (8 March 1852 – ) married Prof.

Charles Henry Pearson Charles Henry Pearson (7 September 1830 – 29 May 1894) was a British-born Australian historian, educationist, politician and journalist. According to John Tregenza, "Pearson was the outstanding intellectual of the Australian colonies. A demo ...

on 10 December 1872. *Alice Isabel Butler (23 December 1853 – ) *Millicent Lecette Butler (10 August 1855 – ) *Charles Philip Roe Butler (15 April 1857 – ) He had three further children in England: a son on 15 February 1859 and twins in November 1862.

Notes and references

References

*Kay Rollison,
Butler, Sir Richard (1850–1925)
, ''

Australian Dictionary of Biography The ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'' (ADB or AuDB) is a national co-operative enterprise founded and maintained by the Australian National University (ANU) to produce authoritative biographical articles on eminent people in Australia's ...

'', Volume 7, MUP, 1979, pp 505–506.
List of Prime Minister/Premier by date
at Australian Government and Politics Database Project * *Parliament of South Australia, Statistical Record of the Legislature 1836 – 2007; Compiled in the Offices of the Clerk of the Parliaments and the Clerk of the Legislative Council, page 61

Retrieved 17 September 2012 , - , - , - , - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Butler, Richard 1850 births 1925 deaths Premiers of South Australia Australian Knights Bachelor People educated at St Peter's College, Adelaide Speakers of the South Australian House of Assembly Leaders of the opposition in South Australia Treasurers of South Australia British emigrants to the Colony of South Australia South Australian families