John Downer

Sir John Downer
Downer in 1900
16th Premier of South Australia
In office
16 June 1885 – 11 June 1887
MonarchVictoria
GovernorSir William Robinson
Preceded byJohn Colton
Succeeded byThomas Playford II
In office
15 October 1892 – 16 June 1893
MonarchVictoria
GovernorEarl of Kintore
Preceded byFrederick Holder
Succeeded byCharles Kingston
3rd Leader of the Opposition (SA)
In office
1885–1885
Preceded byJohn Cox Bray
Succeeded byJenkin Coles
In office
1887–1889
Preceded byThomas Playford II
Succeeded byJohn Cockburn
In office
1893–1895
Preceded byFrederick Holder
Succeeded byWilliam Copley
In office
1897–1899
Preceded byWilliam Copley
Succeeded byVaiben Louis Solomon
Senator for South Australia
In office
30 March 1901 – 31 December 1903
Personal details
Born
John William Downer

(1843-07-06)6 July 1843
Adelaide, South Australia
Died2 August 1915(1915-08-02) (aged 72)
North Adelaide, South Australia
Political partyNational Defence League
Protectionist (1901–03)
Liberal Union (1910–15)
Spouses
Elizabeth Henderson
(m. 1871⁠–⁠1896)
Una Russell
(m. 1899)
RelationsGeorge Downer (brother)
Henry Downer (brother)
Alick Downer (son)
Alexander Downer (grandson)

Sir John William Downer, KCMG, KC (6 July 1843 – 2 August 1915) was an Australian politician who served two terms as Premier of South Australia, from 1885 to 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893. He later entered federal politics and served as a Senator for South Australia from 1901 to 1903. He was the first of four Australian politicians from the Downer family dynasty.