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Morphett, Sir John (1809–1892)

This article was published in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2, (MUP), 1967

Sir John Morphett (1809-1892), landowner and politician, was born on 4 May 1809 in London, a son of
Nathaniel Morphett and Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon. His father came from a Kentish
family and was a London solicitor. After leaving school at 16 Morphett joined a London commercial
office and at 21 entered the counting-house of Harris & Co., in Alexandria, Egypt.

Morphett returned to London in 1834 with his younger brother George and, through Dr Edward Wright,
became interested in the South Australian Association, then pressing for the establishment of a colony in
southern Australia, on the principles of systematic colonization advocated by Edward Gibbon Wakefield.
On the passing of the South Australian Act (4 & 5 Wm IV, c. 95), Morphett issued a four-page circular,
Reasons for the Purchase of Land in South Australia, by Persons Resident in Britain; With a View to the
Removal of Labourers, and the Profitable Employment of Capital. In this pamphlet he declared his
intention of migrating and his readiness to act for purchasers of land. He also advertised in similar terms in
the Globe and Traveller, 30 July 1835. In September 1834 he joined the South Australian Literary
Association, and was soon elected to its committee. By 1835 he was one of the most energetic advocates
of the new province. John Morphett (1809-1892), by Thomas Lawrence
State Library of South Australia, SLSA: B61199

Morphett sailed in the Cygnet and arrived in South Australia in September 1836. Two months later with
Lieutenant Field and (Sir) George Kingston, he discovered the River Torrens. He considered Kangaroo Life Summary [details]
Island unsuitable for permanent settlement but reported favourably on the mainland after two visits, his
Birth
letter being published in London in pamphlet form. At the crucial meeting on 10 February 1837 4 May 1809
Morphett's votes were decisive in confirming the site of Adelaide. In July 1837 in support of the resident London, Middlesex, England
commissioner, (Sir) James Fisher, against Governor (Sir) John Hindmarsh, he joined the committee which Death
established the Southern Australian and his report on these matters was published next year in London. 7 November 1892
Morphettville, Adelaide, South Australia,
Hindmarsh later complained that Morphett was largely responsible for his recall. In 1839 Morphett had a Australia
part in selecting six special surveys, mostly for his English friends and for the Secondary Towns Cultural Heritage
Association. With his Mediterranean experience he believed that wool-growing was more suited than English
agriculture to South Australia, but he also knew that the colony needed men of capital. He threw his Occupation
weight behind every good cause; in 1840 he became treasurer of Adelaide's Municipal Corporation, benefactor (general)
company director
helped to found the Agricultural Society in 1844, gave support to the Collegiate School of St Peter and explorer
acted as attorney for the Society for Propagating the Gospel in foreign parts. He became a local director of immigration promoter
Member of Upper House
the South Australian Banking Co., and served on the committee of the English Railway Co. His office on
North Terrace was thronged by men seeking level-headed advice on land and commerce and he was a
popular chairman at public meetings.

Morphett's political career was long and distinguished. In 1843 he became one of the first non-official
nominees in the Legislative Council. In 1846 he was one of four who walked out in protest against the
mining royalty proposals, but later he proposed the bill for state aid to religion. Next year he visited
England, returning in time to oppose Earl Grey's federal plans and local moves for vote by ballot. When
the Legislative Council was reformed he was again nominated and in August 1851 he was elected
Speaker. In the first elections under responsible government in March 1857 he won a place in the
Legislative Council. In 1861 he was chief secretary in the two short Thomas Reynolds ministries,
resigning because he was unable to support the moves to dismiss Judge Benjamin Boothby. In 1865 he
became president of the Legislative Council, and retained the post until his retirement from politics in
1873.

On 15 August 1838 Morphett married Elizabeth, the eldest daughter of J. H. Fisher. He was knighted in
1870, and died at his house, Cummins, Morphettville, on 7 November 1892, survived by six daughters and
four sons. Portraits include a crayon drawing by Samuel Laurence in the possession of H. C. Morphett,
Adelaide. As a prominent founder, his name figures large in South Australia's toponymy.

Select Bibliography
G. C. Morphett (compiler), The Life and Letters of Sir John Morphett (Adel, 1936)
A. Young, ‘Thornton Leigh Hunt (1810-73) and the Colonization of South Australia’,
Proceedings of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia: South Australian Branch, vol
59, 1957-58, pp 71-77.

Related Entries in NCB Sites view family tree

Morphett, Elizabeth (wife)

Mair, Mary (daughter)

May, Amy Gawler (daughter)

Ayers, Ada Fisher (daughter)

Henderson, Adelaide Sturt (daughter)

Stock, Violet (daughter)

Levi, Marian Fisher (daughter)

Morphett, Baby (son)

Morphett, John Cummins (son)

Morphett, George Cooper (son)

Morphett, Charles Edward (son)

Morphett, James Hurtle (son)

Morphett, Hurtle Willoughby (son)

Morphett, Mary Frances (daughter-in-law)

Mair, William (son-in-law)

Stock, Robert Alfred (son-in-law)

Fisher, James Hurtle (father-in-law)

Morphett, Arthur Hurtle (granddaughter)

Gunson, Annie Elizabeth (granddaughter)

Morphett, Bessey (granddaughter)

Morphett, Mary Eleanor (granddaughter)

Wills, Lucy (granddaughter)

Morphett, George Cummins (grandson)

Morphett, Arthur Hurtle (grandson)

Boothby, Benjamin (supported)

Citation details
'Morphett, Sir John (1809–1892)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography,
Australian National University, http://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/morphett-sir-john-2483/text3337,
published first in hardcopy 1967, accessed online 5 February 2019.

This article was first published in hardcopy in Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 2,
(MUP), 1967

View the front pages for Volume 2

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