Charles Cowper

Sir
Charles Cowper
2nd Premier of New South Wales
In office
26 August 1856 – 2 October 1856
MonarchVictoria
GovernorSir William Denison
Preceded byStuart Donaldson
Succeeded byHenry Parker
In office
7 September 1857 – 26 October 1859
MonarchVictoria
GovernorSir William Denison
Preceded byHenry Parker
Succeeded byWilliam Forster
In office
10 January 1861 – 15 October 1863
MonarchVictoria
GovernorSir William Denison
Sir John Young
Preceded byJohn Robertson
Succeeded byJames Martin
In office
3 February 1865 – 21 January 1866
MonarchVictoria
GovernorSir John Young
Preceded byJames Martin
Succeeded byJames Martin
In office
13 January 1870 – 15 December 1870
MonarchVictoria
GovernorThe Earl Belmore
Preceded byJohn Robertson
Succeeded bySir James Martin
Personal details
Born(1807-04-26)26 April 1807
Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK
Died19 October 1875(1875-10-19) (aged 68)
Kensington, London, England, UK
SpouseEliza Sutton

Sir Charles Cowper (/ˈkpər/),[1] KCMG (26 April 1807 – 19 October 1875) was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five occasions from 1856 to 1870.[2]

Cowper did useful work but does not rank among the more distinguished Australian politicians. Cowper's governments had a fairly coherent liberal tendency, a trend which continued with the governments of Henry Parkes and later developed into the Free Trade Party. In 1852, Parkes referred in public to his "mild, affable and benignant character". In later years he spoke of his "quick insight in dealing with surrounding circumstances, and much good humour and tact in dealing with individuals". His political adroitness was such that it secured for him the popular sobriquet of "Slippery Charley". Cowper probably deserved this title no more than Bishop Wilberforce deserved his of "Soapy Sam", but Rusden[3] speaks of Cowper as "ever anxious to link himself with a majority" and frequently shows animus when speaking of him. He was personally popular, and towards the end of his life the estate of Wivenhoe was purchased by public subscription and settled on his wife.[4]

  1. ^ McClurg, John Harold Crozier (1975). Historical Sketches of Brisbane. Brisbane: Library Board of Queensland and Royal Historical Society of Queensland. p. 51. ISBN 9780724201846. Sir Charles Cowper (pronounced Cowper) was Premier and Colonial Secretary of New South Wales.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference adb was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Blainey, Ann; Mary Lazarus. "Rusden, George William (1819–1903)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  4. ^ Serle, Percival (1949). "Cowper, Sir Charles (1807–1875)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 11 September 2014.