Mr John BLACK (1817 - 1879)**

Date of Birth: 01/12/1817 Place of Birth: St Andrews, Fife, Scotland Date of Death: 03/02/1879 Place of Death: St Andrews, Fife, Scotland

Parliamentary Service

Position Start End Period Notes Member of the NSW Legislative Assembly 9 Jun 1859 10 Nov 1860 1yr(s) 5mth(s) 2day(s) Member for East Sydney 9 Jun 1859 26 Oct 1859 4mth(s) 18day(s) 3rd (1859 - 1860) Member for East Sydney 8 Nov 1859 10 Nov 1860 1yr(s) 3day(s) 3rd (1859 - 1860) Secretary of Lands 27 Oct 1859 8 Mar 1860 4mth(s) 11day(s) Governor General’s Opening Speech Committee No.1 31 Aug 1859 31 Aug 1859 1day 3rd (1859 - 1860) Library Committee No.3 1 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 10mths 4days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Elections and Qualifications Committee No.4 2 Sep 1859 10 Nov 1860 1yr 2mths 9days 3rd (1859 - 1860) University of Sydney Committee No.5 13 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Secondary Punishment Committee No.8 14 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 21days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Alluvial Lands of the Hunter Committee No.10 16 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 19days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Newcastle Wallsend Coal Company’s Incorporation Bill Committee No.13 20 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 15days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Working of the Sydney Municipal Council Committee No.12 20 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 15days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Church and School Lands Committee No.15 20 Sep 1859 10 Nov 1860 1yr 1mth 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Case of James Hibburd Committee No.16 23 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 12days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Case of Charles Wentworth Bucknell Committee No.17 23 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 12days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Pitt-street Tramway Bill Committee No.18 29 Sep 1859 4 Jul 1860 9mths 6days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Seat claimed by James Hoskins, Esquire, Committee No.23 13 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 22days 3rd (1859 - 1860) St Andrew’s College Bill Committee No.24 14 Oct 1859 4 Jul 1860 8mths 21days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Grievances Committee No.26 6 Dec 1859 4 Jul 1860 6mths 29days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Cases of Charles Skerrett Committee No.32 3 Feb 1860 4 Jul 1860 5mths 2days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Maitland Pasturage Reserve Committee No.34 16 Feb 1860 4 Jul 1860 4mths 19days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Dean of St Andrew’s Sydney Committee No.36 17 Feb 1860 10 Nov 1860 8mths 25days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Chairman Federation of the Australian Colonies Committee No.38 3 Apr 1860 4 Jul 1860 3mths 2days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Moreton Bay Immigration and Land Company’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.39 3 Apr 1860 4 Jul 1860 3mths 2days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Petition of Mr N.L Kentish Committee No.4 27 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 14days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Library Committee No.3 27 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 14days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Federation of the Australian Colonies Committee No.5 28 Sep 1860 9 Nov 1860 1mth 13days 3rd (1859 - 1860) Moreton Bay Immigration and Land Company’s Act Amendment Bill Committee No.10 12 Oct 1860 9 Nov 1860 29days 3rd (1859 - 1860)

Qualifications, occupations and interests

Ship broker. Educated at the elementary English School and at the Grammar School, St Andrews. Employed as a ship-broker and commission agent, then entered a lawyer's office and not finding this to his liking became, in 1839 legal adviser to Adam Thom, first recorder of Rupert's Land, Red River Settlement, Canada. Joined the Hudson's Bay Company and became a Commissioned Officer. In 1850 was the chief trader at the Company's factory at Fort Garry. Became a Member of the Red River Settlement's Council and President of the Petty Court in 1851. For some time was a tenant of a farm belonging to John Robertson near Scone. Moved to Sydney in 1857, and became a partner in Mollison & Black, ship-brokers and commission agents, handling the movements of Chinese immigrants. Was Chairman of the Land League (which was pressing for a thorough reform in the administration of the land system) in 1856, at the inception of responsible government for New South Wales; soon after, was asked to stand for Parliament. The aims of the Land League, together with an elective Upper House, railway extension, retrenchment in the government's expenses, reform of the immigration system, and a National system of education, formed the basis of his policies. With James Martin, Henry Parkes and Charles Cowper, was elected for East Sydney on 9 June 1859. Black became Secretary for Lands in William Forster's administration from 27 October 1859 to 8 March 1860. Did not seek re-election after the dissolution of Parliament in November 1860 and returned to Scotland in 1862. Went to Canada again where he was appointed recorder of Rupert's Land until 1870, when the province of Manitoba was created. Was a member of the delegation of Red River settlers to Ottawa in 1870.

Personal

Son of John Black. Married 1845 to the eldest daughter of Alexander Christie, Governor of Red River Settlement, Canada and had no issue. Returned to Britain in 1852, his wife dying at Torquay, Devon, in 1853. Returned to Canada in 1854, migrated to New South Wales, arriving in Sydney in September 1855. Resigned his position and returned to Scotland.

Additional Information

References: Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 3

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