John See

The Honourable
Sir John See
KCMG JP
14th Premier of New South Wales
In office
28 March 1901 – 14 June 1904
Preceded byWilliam Lyne
Succeeded byThomas Waddell
ConstituencyGrafton
Personal details
Born(1844-10-14)14 October 1844
Yelling, Huntingdonshire, England
Died31 January 1907(1907-01-31) (aged 62)
Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
SpouseCharlotte Mary Matthews (1876–1904)
Children
  • Charlotte I. A. (m. Hordern)
  • John Charles Matthews
  • Ruby Edith S.
  • Percy George
  • Lillian M. I.
  • Henry C. M. "Harry"
  • Villiers James G.
  • John Bruce
  • Infant (name unknown)
  • Sydney M.
Milford House, See's Italianate mansion in the Sydney suburb of Randwick

Sir John See KCMG JP (14 October 1844 – 31 January 1907) was a member of the New South Wales Legislature from 26 November 1880 to 15 June 1901, and was then Premier of New South Wales from 1901 to 1904.

See was a self-made man of strong character, an excellent business man and a sound politician. He was well regarded by both sides of politics, for Labour politicians judged that the establishment of the State clothing factory during his administration had a great influence in abolishing sweating, and that the right to women to vote for New South Wales parliament, although not to stand for it, was also introduced.[1] The governor of New South Wales at the time of his Premiership, the 7th Earl of Beauchamp, privately judged See to be "a self made man of good heart but a most pushing and disagreeable manner".[2]

  1. ^ Serle, Percival (1949). "See, Sir John (1844–1907)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  2. ^ William Coleman,Their Fiery Cross of Union. A Retelling of the Creation of the Australian Federation, 1889-1914, Connor Court, Queensland, 2021, p. 335.