Philip Santo
Australian politician (1818–1889)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Philip Santo (7 August 1818 – 17 December 1889) was a South Australian politician and businessman.
Philip Santo | |
|---|---|
| |
| South Australian Commissioner of Public Works | |
| In office 8 October 1861 – 17 October 1861 | |
| Premier | George Waterhouse |
| Preceded by | Alexander Hay |
| Succeeded by | John Lindsay |
| In office 15 July 1863 – 4 August 1864 | |
| Premier | Henry Ayers |
| Preceded by | William Townsend |
| Succeeded by | William Milne |
| In office 20 September 1865 – 23 October 1865 | |
| Premier | Henry Ayers |
| Preceded by | Francis Dutton |
| Succeeded by | Thomas English |
| In office 3 May 1867 – 24 September 1868 | |
| Premier | Henry Ayers |
| Preceded by | Thomas English |
| Succeeded by | William Everard |
| In office 13 October 1868 – 3 November 1868 | |
| Premier | Henry Ayers |
| Preceded by | William Everard |
| Succeeded by | John Colton |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 August 1818 |
| Died | 17 December 1889 (aged 71) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Pean |
History
Santo was born on 7 August 1818, at Saltash, and trained to be a carpenter. At age 22, he left for South Australia on the ship Brightman, arriving in Adelaide in December 1840. He worked as a builder in Adelaide, then Burra. He moved to Melbourne during the rush to the Victorian goldfields but soon returned to set up a shop in Grote Street near Victoria Square in 1857, then Waymouth Street from 1866, then from 1873 as Philip Santo & Co in Waymouth Street and Lipson Street Port Adelaide; initially selling timber. then building materials then general hardware, riverboats and ships. By 1880, they had diversified into such disparate goods as patent medicines, perfumes and flavourings, American waggons, brooms, "kerosine", "gasoline" and cabinet organs.[1] He was reported as the 1867 purchaser of Levi & Watt's newly-completed warehouse at 96 King William Street (now the site of the Commonwealth Bank) which became a warehouse for drapery wholesaler D. & W. Murray,[2] but it appears he was acting for one T. Martin, an English investor.[3]
In 1880, his company erected a new building on Waymouth Street, designed by architect D. Garlick. Tenants included Conigrave & Collison, agents and patent attorneys, and the S.A. Chamber of Manufactures. Santo's company ceased advertising around 1890.
Santo was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly in 1860 for the City of Adelaide district, 1862 and 1865 for East Adelaide then in 1868 for Barossa and was appointed Commissioner of Public works on a number of occasions for various periods, first in the Waterhouse cabinet, then with Henry Ayers to 1868. He lost his seat in 1870, during which year he was elected to the Legislative Council and held that seat for 10 years.[4][5]
He was an active member of the Christian Church, of which Rev. Thomas Playford and Herbert Hussey were contemporary adherents, and as an Elder frequently preached in their chapels in Grote Street and Bentham Street.
He had residences "Clapham Park" in Mitcham[6] and "Fernleigh House" on West Terrace, Adelaide, where he died on 17 December 1889, aged 71.[7]
