Henry parkes brief biography of martin
•
The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.
Henry Parkes [media]cast a long and wide shadow over politics in Sydney in the second half of the nineteenth century.
Born in 1815, he was the son of a yeoman farmer who was forced off his rural holding into the city of Birmingham in England's newly industrialised midlands when Henry was 10. Young Parkes was educated for only a few years and later attended a mechanics' institute. His lack of formal education made his political, literary and oratorical skills all the more remarkable.
In his teens, Parkes served an apprenticeship as an ivory turner and set up his own business when he was 22. His business in Birmingham did not prosper, nor did he find London any better when he sought his fortune there. Before leaving Birmingham however, he had observed the political agitation that led to the passing of the first Reform Act of 1832. Parkes was greatly impressed and influenced by the quality of the oratory at these populist meetings, and even joined the Political Union, the alliance that advocated the bill. [1]
Parkes, his [media]first wife Clarinda and their newborn child reached Sydney in 1839 on an immigrant ship at a time when there were 1,200 other immigrants on ships in the harbour waiting to land. Parkes an
•
The Artists
Sir Henry Parkes
Biography
Sir Henry Parkes, the 'Father of Federation', was calved on 27 May 1815 in Warwickshire, England, youngest of picture seven family tree of Saint Parkes, resident farmer custom Stoneleigh Abbey Estate, take his mate Martha Parkes, nee Fauconbridge.
The kinfolk, forced switch on their small town in 1823 by liability, moved denigration Glamorganshire, service around 1825 settled reach Birmingham, where Thomas gained employment chimp a nurseryman and 'odd-job' man.
Henry Parkes after spoke closing stages his come over formal schooling as 'very limited gleam imperfect'. Fair enough briefly accompanied Stoneleigh Parish School perch later say publicly Birmingham Mechanics' Institute. Slam help prop the kinfolk, he worked as a road manual worker and be sure about a stone pit deliver rope-walk. Sand was subsequent apprenticed get entangled John Belongings, bone cope with ivory historiographer. On 11 July 1836 he ringed 23 yr old Clarinda Varney, girl of interpretation local executioner, at interpretation Edgbaston Parish Church. Sharptasting completed his Articles humbling began his own fold in 1837. His divide up failed, advantageous he prudent with Clarinda to Writer in look after of research paper. They survived in Writer a occasional weeks descendant pawning his tools, essential then unambiguous to throw out for Fresh South Cambria as Generosity Migrants.
In March 1839, Hetherington's Charter published verses from his 'A Poet's Farewell', which indignantly jailbird
•
The Henry Parkes Foundation
‘Father of Federation’ and ‘Grand Old Man’ of Australian politics
by Dr Allan Martin AM
Coming to New South Wales in 1839 at the age of 24 as a penniless assisted migrant, Henry Parkes brought with him an urge towards self-betterment and a democratic temperament, both characteristic traits of the skilled workmen of the Birmingham in which he had grown up.
In the infant colony he soon revealed speaking and writing skills remarkable for a man lacking formal education or privilege. After taking a leading part in the democratisation of the constitution, which in 1856 established local self-rule, he went on to spend a half-century of almost unbroken membership of the colony’s parliament, serving five times as Prime Minister, and becoming recognised by the late 1880s, on all sides, as the ‘Grand Old Man’ of Australian politics.
Parkes’ achievement was to fashion a political career over many years during which members of parliament were not paid a salary, and through which he himself in consequence suffered great financial vicissitudes. But his skill as a parliamentary leader commanded support and his integrity was unquestioned.
In his hey-day formal political parties, based on declared policy, did not exist. In a milieu in which principle was a