Charles Wade
Australian politician
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sir Charles Gregory Wade KCMG, KC, JP (26 January 1863 – 26 September 1922) was Premier of New South Wales 2 October 1907 – 21 October 1910.[1]
Lord Chelmsford
Sir Charles Wade | |
|---|---|
| |
| Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales | |
| In office 15 March 1920 – 26 September 1922 | |
| 17th Premier of New South Wales | |
| In office 2 October 1907 – 1 October 1910 | |
| Governor | Sir Harry Rawson Lord Chelmsford |
| Preceded by | Sir Joseph Carruthers |
| Succeeded by | James McGowen |
| Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Gordon | |
| In office 6 August 1904 – 21 February 1917 | |
| Preceded by | New district |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Bavin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 January 1863 Singleton, Colony of New South Wales, Australia |
| Died | 26 September 1922 (aged 59) Potts Point, New South Wales, Australia |
Early years
Charles Gregory Wade was born in Singleton, New South Wales. He was the son of William Burton Wade, a civil engineer.[2] Educated at All Saints College, Bathurst, and The King's School, Parramatta. Wade won the Broughton and Forrest scholarships and went to Merton College, Oxford.[2] He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) with honours in classics in 1884 and representing his university and, eight times, England at rugby union[1] (for example, he played for England in the first Home Championship, becoming first to score a hat-trick of tries when playing against Wales).[2][3] He played county cricket for Herefordshire and Shropshire between 1881 and 1884,[4] and also excelled at lawn tennis, rowing and target shooting.[1]
He was called to the bar at the Inner Temple in 1886.[2] He married Ella Louise Bell,[2] and successfully prosecuted George Dean for attempted murder in a notorious case in 1895. He was an acting Judge of the District Court between 1896 and 1902.[5] From 1902, he represented employers before the new Industrial Arbitration Court.[1][6]
Political career
In September 1903, he ran successfully for the Legislative Assembly seat of Willoughby, with the support of the Liberal and Reform Association, People's Reform League, New South Wales Alliance for the Suppression of Intemperance, Loyal Orange Institution and Australian Protestant Defence Association. From 1904 to 1917, he represented Gordon.[6][7]
Within a year of his first election he joined the Carruthers ministry as Attorney-General and Minister for Justice.[1]
During the 1909–10 coal strike, Wade appeared to favour the mine-owners and lost significant community support.[6]
In November 1916 there was a split in the Labor party on the issue of conscription, with premier William Holman and 17 other pro-conscription Labor MPs were expelled from the party on the issue.[8] The eighteen formed a grand coalition with Liberal Reform, giving the coalition a majority in parliament, with Holman remaining Premier.[9]
He thus had no role when Liberal Reform merged with Holman's pro-conscription ex-Labor MPs a few months later to form the New South Wales branch of the Nationalist Party of Australia, though the new party was dominated by Liberal Reformers.
Wade died after a heart attack at his house at the Sydney suburb of Potts Point on 26 September 1922 (aged 59) and was survived by Lady Wade, two sons and two daughters.[1]
His funeral was held at St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney on 22 September 1922. He was buried at South Head Cemetery on the same day.