William John Copley MP (1845 - 1925)

Born 25 Apr 1845 in High Green, Yorkshire, England

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Ann (Marsh) Copley — married 1864 in South Australia, Australia

Descendants

Died 16 Sep 1925 at age 80 in Henley Beach South, South Australia, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Joanne Egan [send private message]

Biography

William Copley MP came free to the Colony of South Australia (1836-1900)

William Copley MP is Notable.

William Copley (25 April 1845^[1] – 16 September 1925) migrated to South Australia with his parents when he was 4 years of age and lived by the Burra Burra Mines in Clare Valley, SA before living in Victoria for a short period of time during the gold rush. Eventually they returned to South Australia and ended up moving to the West Torrens district where Copley attended school at the Hindmarsh Public School and later on "Mr. Bath's school at North Adelaide" (Believed to be the Christ Church School^[2][3]).^[4] William Copley married Mary Anne Marsh in 1864^[5] He passed away in Henley Beach South, South Australia on 16 September 1925.^[6]

Before entering parliament, Copley served as the president of the Farmer's Association in South Australia in 1883 & 1884^[7]

Copley served as the MP for Yorke Peninsula in the House of Assembly (25 April 1896 - 2 May 1903), the MP for Northern District in the Legislative Council (6 July 1887 - 25 May 1894) and the MP for Frome in the House of Assembly (23 April 1884 to 5 April 1887). For a short period of time in 1896, Copley served as the Leader of the Opposition of South Australia for the National Defence League. Copley also served as the Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration (19 Aug 1890 - 6 Jan 1892), The Minister of Education and Agriculture (6 Jan 1892 - 21 Jun 1892 & 25 Oct 1892 - 12 May 1893) and the Chief Secretary of South Australia (12 May 1893 - 16 Jun 1893)^[8]

Sources

1. ↑ GRO Birth Index, William Copley, Wortley Vol. 22, Page 717 q June 1845. Mother's maiden name listed as Redfearn.
2. ↑ DEATH OF MR. JAMES BATH. (1901, May 20). Evening Journal (Adelaide, SA : 1869 - 1912), p. 2 (ONE O'CLOCK EDITION). Retrieved December 7, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article207947036
3. ↑ https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/heritage-places/former-christ-church-school-and-outbuilding-81-jeffcott-street-north-adelaide/
4. ↑ HON. WILLIAM COPLEY (1892, October 1). The Pictorial Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1885 - 1895), p. 3. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230506870
5. ↑ Marriage registration 59/178 or 59/337, Genealogy SA, online database, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/resources/online-database-search
6. ↑ Death registration 481/371, Genealogy SA, online database, https://www.genealogysa.org.au/resources/online-database-search
7. ↑ HON. WILLIAM COPLEY (1892, October 1). The Pictorial Australian (Adelaide, SA : 1885 - 1895), p. 3. Retrieved December 7, 2022, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article230506870
8. ↑ https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/Search/Member?type=member&id=4205

See also:

• Dean Jaensch, The Australian Dictionary of Biography, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/copley-william-5775
• Wikipedia: William Copley (South Australian politician)
• Wikidata: Item Q8007110