William Crowther (Australian politician)

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William Crowther (Australian politician) bigraphy, stories - Australian politician

William Crowther (Australian politician) : biography

15 April 1817 – 12 April 1885

William Lodewyk Crowther FRCS (15 April 1817 – 12 April 1885) was an Australian politician, who was Premier of Tasmania 20 December 1878 to 29 October 1879.

Early life

Crowther was born in Haarlem, Netherlands, elder child of Dr. William Crowther who was later a long-time resident surgeon of Hobart. The Crowthers moved to Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) in 1824.

Crowther was educated at a private school at Richard B. Claiborne’s Grammar School in Longford, Tasmania and then went to St Thomas’ Hospital, England to study medicine. In 1842 he returned to Tasmania and practised at Hobart.

Legacy

Crowther died in Hobart on 12 April 1885. He married Victoria Marie Louise, daughter of General Muller, who survived him with eight children. One of his sons, Dr Edward. L. Crowther, was a member of the Tasmanian parliament from 1878 to 1912.

A statue of W. L. Crowther is erected in Franklin Square, Hobart. The inscription reads:

The W.L. Crowther Library was named in his memory, and presented to the State Library of Tasmania by his grandson Sir William Crowther (1887–1981).

Political career

Crowther was elected to the Tasmanian House of Assembly in October 1866, but resigned his seat in December 1866. On 22 March 1869, he was elected to the Tasmanian Legislative Council as a representative of Hobart and held this seat until his death. He was a constant attendant and an able speaker. In July 1876 he joined the Thomas Reibey cabinet as a minister without portfolio, and on 20 December 1878 became premier. The state of the political parties at that time made it practically impossible to do anything constructive. Crowther resigned on 29 October 1879.