Charles Lilley

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The Honourable
Sir Charles Lilley
4th Premier of Queensland
In office
25 November 1868 – 2 May 1870
Preceded byRobert Mackenzie
Succeeded byArthur Hunter Palmer
ConstituencyHamlet of Fortitude Valley
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Hamlet of Fortitude Valley
In office
1 May 1860 – 25 November 1873
Preceded byNew seat
Succeeded bySeat renamed to Fortitude Valley
Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly
for Fortitude Valley
In office
25 November 1873 – 14 February 1874
Preceded bySeat renamed from Hamlet of Fortitude Valley
Succeeded byFrancis Beattie
2nd Chief Justice of Queensland
In office
25 June 1879 – 13 March 1893
Preceded byJames Cockle
Succeeded bySamuel Griffith
Personal details
Born(1827-08-27)27 August 1827
Newcastle upon Tyne, England
Died20 August 1897(1897-08-20) (aged 69)
Brisbane, Queensland
Resting placeToowong Cemetery
SpouseSarah Jane Jeays
RelationsJoshua Jeays (father-in-law)
OccupationBarrister, Judge

Sir Charles Lilley (27 August 1827 – 20 August 1897) was a Premier and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland. He had a significant influence on the form and spirit of state education in colonial Queensland which lasted well into the 20th century.

Early life

Lilley was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, the son of Thomas Lilley and his wife Jane, née Shipley.[1] Lilley was raised by his maternal grandfather and was educated at St Nicholas Parish School. Intending to study law, Lilley became articled to Newcastle solicitor, William Lockey Harle. Lilley was sent to the London office and studied at University College, London for two years. He gave this up, enlisted in the army and, while stationed at Preston, Lancashire, lectured on temperance and industry. This brought him into disfavour with his superior officers. Lilley spent 28 days in cells on a charge of being absence without leave. Friends purchased his honourable discharge.[2]

Politics

Lilley was prominent in the movement for separation from New South Wales. After Queensland separated, Lilley was elected by a majority of only three votes as the Member for Hamlet of Fortitude Valley to that state's first Legislative Assembly. At the time, Lilley had formed the Queensland Liberal Association in an attempt to introduce political parties to the Legislative Assembly.[3][4] Lilley held the seat of Fortitude Valley to February 1874, and was then returned for the seat of North Brisbane.

Lilley in courtroom attire
Governor Blackall in Maryborough, Queensland, c. 1870

Lilley's strong interest in education was a significant factor in the establishment of Brisbane Grammar School where the Lilley Gold Medal and the Lilley Silver Medal are named in his honour.[5] The Lilley Centre opened in 2010 is also named after him.[6] In 1891 he was chairman of a commission investigating the establishment of a university in Brisbane.[7] In 1893, Lilley resigned his position as Chief Justice after Sir Thomas McIlwraith questioned publicly some of Lilley's financial transactions, and stood unsuccessfully against McIlwraith in the electorate of Brisbane North.

Later life

Monument at the burial site of Sir Charles Lilley at Brisbane's Toowong Cemetery

In January 1881 he was elected president of Brisbane's Johnsonian Club. He was knighted in May 1881 and after first declining the honour, he reconsidered and accepted the honour later that year.[8][9]

Lilley had a severe illness in 1896 and died in 1897.

Legacy

The Federal electorate of Lilley is named after him.

Sir Charles Lilley statue in King George Square, Brisbane

There is a statue of Sir Charles Lilley at the Speakers' Corner in King George Square in Brisbane.

Family

Lilley married Sarah Jane Jeays in 1858 and was survived by a large family including:

  • Edwyn Mitford (1859–1911)
  • Charles Bedell (1860–1918)
  • Annie Mary (1862 – ?)
  • Walter Preston (1863–1916)
  • Harold Bedell (1864–1901)
  • Arthur Shipley (1866–1948)

See also

References

  1. H. J. Gibbney, 'Lilley, Sir Charles (1827–1897)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 5, MUP, 1974, pp 86–88. Retrieved 2009-09-13
  2. "Obituary. DEATH OF SIR CHARLES LILLEY". The Week. Vol. XLIV, no. 1, 131. Queensland, Australia. 27 August 1897. p. 8. Retrieved 30 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. "QUEENSLAND LIBERAL ASSOCIATION". The Moreton Bay Courier. Vol. XIV, no. 870. Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1860. p. 2. Retrieved 29 May 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. Allan A. Morrison (25 September 1953). Liberal Party Organisations Before 1900 (PDF) (Speech). Retrieved 28 May 2024.
  5. "The Opening of the Brisbane Grammar School". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXIII, no. 3, 536. Queensland, Australia. 2 February 1869. p. 2. Retrieved 30 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. "Lilley Centre". Brisbane Grammar School. Retrieved 30 April 2026.
  7. "University Commission". The Queenslander. Queensland, Australia. 21 February 1891. p. 377. Retrieved 30 April 2026 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. "The Brisbane Courier". The Brisbane Courier. Vol. XXXV, no. 7, 294. Queensland, Australia. 28 May 1881. p. 4. Retrieved 15 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. "SIR CHAARLES LILLEY". The Week. Vol. XII, no. 306. Queensland, Australia. 5 November 1881. p. 7. Retrieved 15 April 2023 – via National Library of Australia.