William Henry Archer
Contents
Background
William Henry Archer was a London born statistician and public servant who arrived at Melbourne on 1 November 1852 aboard the Diadem. On 10 September 1855 Archer had married Mary Charnley, daughter of Captain Philip Pitt Nind; he had become engaged to her in England. Of their five children the only survivor was Grace, who married Philip, son of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy. [1]
Governor Charles La Trobe Archer to read the new Act which would introduce compulsory civil registration of births, deaths and marriages, and to recommend a plan for the guidance of the registrar-general, with detailed rules for local deputy-registrars. Archer stressed the importance of identical boundaries for the purposes of registration and census, highlighted Neison's criticisms of the English system, and suggested that schedules should require details of information recommended by the Registration Committee of the Council of the Statistical Society of London. LaTrobe approved these proposals and appointed Archer acting registrar-general from 1 July 1853 at a salary of £600. Archer began to arrange the administration of the Act, expecting to receive permanent headship of the department; but in January 1854 LaTrobe appointed Major Norman Campbell. Archer was appointment as assistant registrar-general without loss of salary, a gratuity of £200 from La Trobe, and a 'silver Wine Cooler' from his colleagues. [2]
After Campbell's death in January 1859, Archer was appointed registrar-general by the O'Shanassy ministry. When the Land Transfer Act of 1862 introduced the 'Torrens title' system of land registration to Victoria, its administration was given to Archer. However, his control was disputed by those who held that, without legal training, he should confine himself to the compilation of statistics. Despite Archer's disappointment and O'Shanassy's resentment at infringement of his patronage, this view prevailed and Archer lost a responsibility that he had thought to be his. In 1863 he found his position intolerable and withdrew. He studied law at the University of Melbourne, was called to the Bar in 1867, and was invited to become registrar of titles in 1868. In May 1874, after an inquiry into the Lands Department, he was promoted secretary of lands and survey.[3]
William Henry Archer died on 29 April 1909 aged 84, and was buried in Boroondara Cemetery on 30 April 1909. Mary Archer and William Henry Archer are buried in the same grave.[4]
Goldfields Involvement, 1854
In a letter written by Father Patrick Smyth on 13 December 1854 to William Henry Archer, Fr Smyth passionately admonishes how he was not allowed to tend the sick and dying after the battle as they lay on the ground. "What do you think of this that I was not allowed to see the wounded among the soldiers tho' I applied myself to that first; again on my way to the stockade, an armed man with a pistol in his extended hand rode round me; and while on the stockade, looking after the dead and dying I was told politely indeed, to take myself away, tho' all was as quiet then as now. Would not this make a granite rock imbedded in polar ice turn to fire and much more one of my temperament and disposition who stakes his life for peace and would stake it doubly for the weal of the dying. But this feeling of anger - for I was angry - has passed away. But better times I hope are dawning. We are full of confidence in the good intentions of His Excellency. May we have the good and just things that our people look for." Father Patrick Smyth showed courage and commitment to his calling. Many of his parishioners included men from both sides.
Post 1854 Experiences
Obituary
- Another old colonist passed away last week, Mr William Henry Archer having died at Windsor at the age of 84. He filled creditably in many public positions since his arrival in the State in 1852, and was for a time Secretary of Lands.[5]
See also
Further Reading
Corfield, J.,Wickham, D., & Gervasoni, C. The Eureka Encyclopaedia, Ballarat Heritage Services, 2004.
References
- ↑ Cecily Close, 'Archer, William Henry (1825–1909)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/archer-william-henry-2895/text4153, published in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 25 September 2014.
- ↑ Cecily Close, 'Archer, William Henry (1825–1909)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/archer-william-henry-2895/text4153, published in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 25 September 2014.
- ↑ Cecily Close, 'Archer, William Henry (1825–1909)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/archer-william-henry-2895/text4153, published in hardcopy 1969, accessed online 25 September 2014.
- ↑ http://www.kewcemetery.com.au/FindGrave.aspx, accessed 24 March 2013 by Kathleen Gervasoni
- ↑ Kilmore Free Press, 6 May 1909.
External links
http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/archer-william-henry-2895
--Clare K. Gervasoni (talk) 22:03, 25 September 2014 (AEST)
