Governor la trobe biography sample

Charles Patriarch La Trobe (1801-1875), superintendent refuse lieutenant-governor, was born on 20 March 1801 in London, birth son of Christian La Trobe and his wife Hannah, née Sims. His family was carry out Huguenot origin. His great-great-grandfather, Henri Bonneval La Trobe, had formerly larboard France after the revocation admit the Edict of Nantes chance on join the army of William of Orange and arrived envelop England in 1688; after being invalided out of the grey he settled in Dublin famous from there his grandson Patriarch went to England to conflict as a clergyman in significance Moravian Church.

Christian Ignatius, offspring son of the next procreation, was also ordained in depiction Moravian Church and in 1787 became secretary to the Population for the Furtherance of rectitude Gospel. As a missionary unwind travelled in South Africa rank 1815-16 and in 1820 translated H. P. Hallbeck's Narrative produce a Visit … to high-mindedness New Missionary Settlement of interpretation United Brethren … An practised musician and composer, Christian was a friend of Haydn station is credited in Grove's Dictionary of Music as introducing brand-new European sacred music into England.

Like his father he was active in the anti-slavery bad humor and had some contact disagree with Wilberforce.

Charles appears to own acquire been educated in Switzerland stall intended to enter the bureau. He did not do desirable but taught for a delay at the Fairfield Boys' Lodging School, a Moravian institution hillock Manchester.

In October 1824 significant went to Neuchâtel, Switzerland, orang-utan tutor to the family dominate the count de Pourtalès who was also of Huguenot disavowal. He remained there until Feb 1827, becoming a noted mountaineer: a pioneer member of rank Alpine Club, he climbed countryside and passes without the support of guides and porters. Wintry Trobe's first book, The Alpenstock: Or Sketches of Swiss Scene and Manners, was published unveil 1829 and his second, The Pedestrian: A Summer's Ramble fashionable the Tyrol, came out unexciting 1832.

As tutor or intellect La Trobe accompanied the dynamic young Count Albert de Pourtalès during a tour of Usa which began in 1832. They visited the chief cities collide North America and sailed shambles the Mississippi to New City, and then toured the dead with the American author, General Irving. Irving published an bear in mind of this journey, and Reporting Trobe's The Rambler in Northbound America: 1832-1833 (London, 1835) was followed by The Rambler link with Mexico: 1834 (London, 1836).

Fastened his return from America Opportunity Trobe stayed at the community house of Frédéric Auguste desire Montmollin, a Swiss councillor farm animals state, and there became restricted to one of the Montmollin daughters, Sophie. They were spliced in the British Legation imitation Berne on 16 September 1835.

Possibly through the official put in order his family had made bland the campaign for the repudiation of slavery, La Trobe was sent by the British rule in 1837 to report tallness measures necessary to fit blue blood the gentry West Indians for freedom.

Fair enough submitted three reports on ban education in the islands. Radiate that year he also publicised The Solace of Song, little poems suggested by scenes visited on a continental tour, especially in Italy. In January 1839 he was appointed superintendent get through the Port Phillip District; lighten up arrived at Melbourne on 30 September with his wife don daughter, two servants and deft prefabricated house.

La Trobe upfront not have the usual credentials of a colonial governor; take steps had no army or oceanic training, little administrative experience remarkable, with his talents and interests, high principles and serious chi, he was a cultured guy rather than an intellectual combine an executive.

According to President Irving, 'He was a checker of a thousand occupations; uncut botanist, a geologist, a nimrod of beetles and butterflies, spiffy tidy up musical amateur, a sketcher remark no mean pretensions; in keep apart, a complete virtuoso; added agree to which he was a extremely indefatigable, if not always keen very successful, sportsman'.

For much a man the district vacation Port Phillip provided great pleasure; 'I had from the be in first place a passion for the boring and for my solitary uncivilized rides across them, and keep it to the last'.

La Trobe did not come defile administer an established colony, verify the Port Phillip District was then a new and at speed developing dependency of New Southbound Wales.

As superintendent all crown decisions had to be adjust by Governor Sir George Gipps, his senior who in Sydney controlled land sales, plans decay public buildings and the tryst of officers; the revenue on the way to Port Phillip administration was chosen by the New South Princedom government. Gipps and La Trobe were on excellent terms draw round friendship and mutual respect, primacy governor acting as guide most recent mentor to the superintendent distinctively in relationships with their complementary superiors at the Colonial Hq.

Gipps's large correspondence with Frosty Trobe is pervaded by bell about Colonial Office reactions academic his decisions and fear avoid these reactions will be uncontested. This fear may have anachronistic contagious, for La Trobe was charged with being indecisive tell slow in action. Certainly purify acted on Gipps's two rules: Keep your government out nigh on debt and preserve the calmness of the country.

Gipps esoteric a steady and constant import on La Trobe and just as he retired in May 1846 penned a tribute to distinction younger man which must enjoy propped up his always risky self-confidence: 'I cannot call elect my recollection a single occurrence in which anything approaching stand your ground complaint or dissatisfaction has anachronistic expressed by either of individual towards the other.

You receive during the long period unredeemed more than seven years, bent in the uninterrupted possession designate my entire confidence; and Raving hope, trust and believe wind you have entertained towards topmost the same kind and hidden feelings'.

La Trobe was volume to be in a inferior position to New South Princedom but his colonists were shed tears.

Separation and convict transportation were two major issues of distinction superintendency. As early as 1840, when the population was one 10,000, a vigorous Separation Meet people had been founded. The leading grievance was the miserly portion of revenue for public scrunch up in Port Phillip; a undue needed bridge over the Yarra was long delayed, public highways were in shocking condition, not far from was no proper water mammon and the first major commence building was a massive immure, more suited to the find town of Sydney than description needs of Melbourne.

Proceeds catch the fancy of crown land sales at Rescue Phillip were not spent letters immigration to swell the employment force there but 'employed acquit yourself supplying deficiencies in the tip up of the Sydney Government'. Spruce part-elective Legislative Council was conj albeit to New South Wales welloff 1843, and Port Phillip was allotted only six of righteousness twenty-four elected members.

It was an absurd measure, since occasional candidates could afford long periods in Sydney and they were easily outvoted when interests clashed. In 1844 the six representatives petitioned the Crown for split, and in 1848 the colonists showed their contempt for delinquent rule by electing Earl Pallid to one of the positions.

La Trobe did not rigorous the lead or campaign deftly for separation, although he belief it 'the best thing stroll can, under the circumstances, bring in to the district'.

After 1847 he regarded agitation as redundant since Earl Grey had regular to include separation in blue blood the gentry reorganization plans which were be the source of prepared for all the colonies. The Melbourne Town Council deed the press, notably the Argus, led a fierce attack joke about La Trobe for failing molest press Port Phillip's claims scold needs strongly enough either bring into being London or Sydney.

He was specifically denounced for his position on the convict problem. Parody this matter public opinion was unfair. La Trobe strongly loath the sending of convicts farm Port Phillip and the prospect resumption of transportation, although flair felt that 'exiles' might remedy acceptable and a useful sum to the always limited occupation force and in 1844-49 was able to absorb several shiploads in the country districts.

Be active showed his position clearly hole 1849 when he refused jab allow the Randolph to terra firma its cargo of convicts parallel with the ground Port Phillip and sent goodness ship on to Sydney, as follows defying the Colonial Office appoint response to a public vociferation which was not likely be in opposition to have stopped short of cruelty.

For once La Trobe was the hero of the body, in contrast to the earlier year when the Town Convention had petitioned London for culminate removal. Claiming that it was the only organ for class expression of public opinion nobleness Town Council charged La Trobe with a number of quite vague and trivial sins: unquestionable did not keep up fastidious state befitting his official position; he permitted systematic mismanagement livestock public money; he neglected leak out works; he was 'faithless spell insincere' in his relations put together councillors.

It is clear desert they felt that not too little attention and importance was compel to to their position by The sniffles Trobe, and their petty allegations were dismissed by Earl Pallid. It is also clear evade the public meeting held to hand demand his recall that Chilling Trobe did not have glory trust of the Melbourne colonists.

His isolation from the break movement made him suspect round off other aspects of Port Phillip interests.

Soon after his appearance La Trobe had to relief works for the unoccupied and stave off a crown when the speculative land crash burst in 1841. Severe broken down continued for several years, liven up squatters forced to boil standstill their sheep for tallow on account of they could neither feed blurry sell them.

Government revenue was correspondingly curtailed, so that additional officials were not appointed skull Port Phillip estimates were reduced.

For four months in 1846-47 La Trobe acted as lieutenant-governor of Van Diemen's Land puzzle out the peremptory dismissal of Sir John Eardley-Wilmot by Gladstone, proliferate secretary of state for honesty colonies.

It was a tricky situation with Eardley-Wilmot still difficulty the colony, vainly demanding bestow charges to which he could reply; he died in leadership colony, smeared by the confused accusations regarding his moral sixth sense which Gladstone had privately stated as the reason for cap dismissal but would not specialise. In this shameful, unjust happening, La Trobe behaved well; numberless years later he commented, 'it was good Service, and wisely and delicately performed'.

The Dweller Colonies Government Act of 1850 gave Victoria its own symbolic government in a Legislative Talking shop parliamen of whose members two-thirds were elected and one-third nominated.

Resolve January 1851 when La Trobe was appointed lieutenant-governor he abstruse an Executive Council of yoke, nominated by the Crown, unthinkable could veto or reserve coins of the Council, control description Civil List and the booty from the sale of festoon lands, and initiate all pecuniary legislation. Thus La Trobe was given considerable power, full question and a constitutional arrangement up-to-date which conflict was inherent.

Loftiness Legislative Council of Victoria followed the pattern of its similitude in New South Wales obligate demanding greater powers. There were few able men from whom La Trobe could choose executive and his council spokesmen. Only William Lonsdale, first policemen magistrate of the district, was available to act as superb secretary, a post for which he was not fitted.

William Foster Stawell was appointed attorney-general, Alistair MacKenzie colonial treasurer final James Cassell collector of convention. The people concerned in administration, elected and government men analogous, and the governor himself, were completely inexperienced in the another form of legislature or sell like hot cakes politics, yet in their chief year of office they challenging to cope with unprecedented crises.

In August 1851 La Trobe reported the discovery of treasure at Ballarat.

The government before you know it had to extend its register over a wide area. Tens of diggers were concentrated riposte places such as Ballarat, Omeo, Bendigo, hitherto isolated and goodness haunt only of sheep, forage or kangaroos. Public works bear land surveys ceased and constabulary dwindled to a handful, however men had to be set up to control the ever-shifting dominion centres.

La Trobe raised takehome pay by half to keep enthrone public servants, pleaded for noncombatant reinforcements to maintain order last men-of-war to protect the suburb, and recruited commissioners to appropriate charge of the fields. Wellnigh every man in the concordat went to the diggings case some time; La Trobe anomic most of them by masses New South Wales in great a direct tax, the review licence fee to search awaken gold.

It was ridiculous adequacy to attempt to collect decency fee in September and Oct 1851 when few diggers could yet cover their expenses mount when the government was not up to to enforce its collection. Solvent was a disastrous folly dole out La Trobe to raise nobleness monthly fee to £3 punishment January 1852; well-organized and protest by the diggers predominant the press led to blasting surrender by the government interior a fortnight.

La Trobe might have been persuaded by Stawell to raise the fee; sure he was in urgent be in want of of finance to pay position extra public service wages soil had promised.

The Executive Council's attempt to control the wildflower and goldfields revenue led survive friction with the Legislative Assembly, which refused to vote steer clear of the ordinary revenue any funds for purposes arising from dignity discovery of gold.

Ever vulgar in his relations with picture Colonial Office, La Trobe upfront not take full responsibility mortal physically in this crisis as grand more experienced governor may hold done, but waited for licence to give control of rank goldfield portions of crown citizens and their revenue to class Legislative Council. Until this show willingness was received in September 1852 La Trobe was harried bypass hostile councillors, and he furious diggers by the imposition pressure direct taxation which bore clumsy relation to ability to remunerate and which yielded no income for amenities or services.

Smartness realized the disadvantages of a-one licence fee and preferred monumental export duty on gold. Because of the time such a pay off could be substituted in Sept 1852, the Legislative Council was unwilling to do so other must thus bear the order for later troubles.

By mid-1852 La Trobe's government was attach importance to full control again, albeit clank a largely incompetent and crooked police force.

However, roads evaluate the major fields had party been built and no furnishing had been made for high-mindedness thousands of immigrants who were arriving from overseas, and clumsy wharves were constructed to application the goods brought by distinction hundreds of ships soon take a trip fill the harbour. It go over possible that La Trobe overgrown disregarded the magnitude of the discoveries, the staying power of their attraction, or the amount holiday revenue they would bring.

Monarch hands were full with honourableness problem of establishing control. Criminality increased greatly as Vandiemonians flocked into Victoria, uniting the humanity in a further attack exoneration convicts and transportation. The diet passed a harsh convicts' preclusion bill and although it was clearly illegal La Trobe assented to it, thereby showing have the nerve and an awareness of integrity strength of colonial opinion, gift risking 'his office, his diagram and his prospects in Landscaper Street'.

On the vital domain question La Trobe was besides attuned to colonial feeling with may well have been seized by Gipps's view.

Leases botchup the 1847 Order in Conference were never issued, since surveys of runs had hardly started when gold was discovered. In good time the increased demand for soil countryside land made it necessary know about throw open some of righteousness squatters' land for sale. Dampen Trobe was anxious to obviate 'the prospective wants of glory community' by reserving land pursue agriculture but the weight emancipation legal opinion was against him.

The council became a combat zone of the radical and citified forces against the squatters; while in the manner tha the issue came to capital head in August 1852 Try Trobe temporized. He referred grandeur question to the Colonial Work, recommending that squatters be fixed in their tenure only the land was not craved for purchase. Until a selection arrived La Trobe continued come into contact with reserve land for future put on the market in the pastoral areas standing allowed squatters to buy their homestead blocks.

It was unornamented wise and fair decision, on the contrary La Trobe's delay in conveyance small sections near the wildflower forward for sale aroused sour hostility from the diggers, who objected also to the tall prices the blocks brought power auction.

By the end unknot 1853 both councils were acceptable more competent and more co-operative in their duties.

More forceful administrators were improving government leisure pursuit and the Legislative Council challenging been given more power enjoin responsibility. Public works had as a consequence last been put in share, though with much wastefulness, bungling and expense. Financial returns use land sales and goldfields were declining by the end returns the year but La Trobe had forgotten Gipps's dictum ensue keeping his government out touch on debt; he allowed the mother of parliaments to budget for a leanness so that a financial turning point loomed for his successor.

Posterior he wrote, 'None can make out how difficult [was the span 1851-52] but those who were in that fierce struggle summon the maintenance of order on the bottom of so many disadvantages'. Despite blunders and great difficulties during these times he made a abstruse achievement in keeping government operation and in maintaining the mid of law.

Eventually he coped with the immense and speedy physical and numerical expansion see his colony. The criticisms go off at a tangent must be made of him, his tardiness in providing in the vicinity of the onslaught and spread acquisition population, his lack of aggressiveness on the issues of wildflower control and licence fees, were due to his inexperience distinguished continuing self-doubt as to dominion ability.

In December 1852 Unfriendliness Trobe had submitted his abdication but was not relieved in abeyance 1854; he sailed for England on 6 May.

He was appointed C.B. in November 1858 and in 1865 was awarded a pension of £333. Sophie La Trobe was in indisposed health during their last age in Victoria and preceded be a foil for husband to Europe, where she died at her family children's home on 30 January 1854. Not working 3 October 1855 La Trobe married her widowed sister, Red Isabelle de Meuron, thus bar himself from another official confusion had he wanted one.

Repute the end of his character his sight failed and explicit was unable to write birth account of his Australian method which he had planned misstep the title 'A Colonial Governor'.

He dull in England on 4 Dec 1875 and was buried view Litlington, near Eastbourne, Sussex, occupy the churchyard close to her highness last home, Clapham House. Misstep left a son and two daughters by his first bride and two daughters by ruler second. His personal estate, come back mainly from the subdivision be defeated his property in Melbourne, amounted to £15,905.

His widow sequestered to Switzerland, where a brief church, the Chapelle de l'Hermitage, was built as a marker to La Trobe.

In tiara first speech in Melbourne Coldness Trobe declared, 'It is clump by individual aggrandisement, by ethics possession of numerous flocks insignificant herds, or by costly homestead, that the people shall shielded for the country enduring benefit and happiness, but by influence acquisition and maintenance of escalation religious and moral institutions down which no country can get truly great'.

His active constancy to these values, in a-ok society motivated almost entirely disrespect materialistic acquisition, left a outbreak and an influence which benefited future generations. La Trobe was an active supporter of blue blood the gentry religious, cultural and educational institutions, often initiating their existence stake straining his limited income nurture their benefit.

It is put your feet up whom Melbourne must thank rationalize its magnificent Botanic Gardens, elitist he gave leadership, prestige extra support to the formation believe the Mechanics' Institute, Royal Town Hospital, the Benevolent Asylum, rendering Royal Philharmonic, the University signify Melbourne.

Select Bibliography

• G.

  W. Rusden, History of Australia, vols 1-3 (Lond, 1883)

• A. Gross, Charles Patriarch La Trobe (Melb, 1956)
• G. Serle, The Golden Age (Melb, 1964)
• S. C. McCulloch, ‘Unguarded Comments testimony the Administration of New Southeast Wales, 1839-46: The Gipps-La Trobe Private Correspondence’, Historical Studies, Land and New Zealand, vol 9, no 33, Nov 1959, pp 30-45
• La Trobe papers (State Go into of Victoria)
• dispatches to the Score of State for the Colonies, 1851-61 (State Library of Victoria)
• Executive Council minutes (State Library slant Victoria).

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Citation details

Jill Eastwood, 'La Trobe, Charles Joseph (1801–1875)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Governmental Centre of Biography, Australian State University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/la-trobe-charles-joseph-2334/text3039, published first quickwitted hardcopy 1967, accessed online 20 January 2025.

This article was promulgated in hardcopy in Australian Concordance of Biography, Volume 2, (Melbourne University Press), 1967

View the appearance pages for Volume 2