Parker was the fourth son of Thomas Watson Parker and his wife Mary, née Cornell, of
Lewisham, Kent, England. In order to improve his poor health, he joined the
British East India Company and travelled to
India, China and the
Cape of Good Hope. Subsequently he toured France, Holland and Belgium, before securing employment in 1837 as private secretary to Sir
George Gipps. In 1838 in this capacity he accompanied Gipps, now the incoming colonial Governor, to the
Colony of New South Wales. In 1843 Parker married Emmeline Emily, third daughter of
John Macarthur, which further linked him to the conservative colonial establishment. Parker was elected as member for
Parramatta in the first
Legislative Assembly.
Premier He left an estate of £140,000.
Recognition Parker was knighted in 1858 and created Knight Commander of the
Order of St Michael and St George in 1877. ==See also==