William Gilbert (politician)

Gilbert was born in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, the only son of a successful millwright and engineer, and was educated at what was later described as the "best private school in the county" but which Gilbert himself criticised as "cramming Greek and Latin rather than teaching first principles", At 19 years of age he took over his father's business, and ran it for ten years. Around 1860 he followed his father into the flour-milling business with a mill at High Wycombe Gilbert was for twenty years a member of the Savings Bank board. ==Politics==

Gilbert was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Yatala in 1881 with David Murray and against William Cavanagh. He remained a member of Parliament for Yatala, and Barossa, its replacement after redistribution, for 26 years. He led the Independent Country Party for five years until its split. ==Philanthropic activities==

In an interview Gilbert once said "The necessity to work is one of the blessings that come to humanity. I would not recommend any man to retire from business simply because he has enough to live on. If he has health he is better for being employed. I remained in business till about the year 1908, and if I had known I should be as well as I have been I would have stuck to it longer." After his year's sojourn in England he not only returned to the chaff business; he took up a range of activities: • He had always been a worshipper at the North Adelaide Baptist Church (then on LeFevre Terrace; its minister was J. L. Parsons), • He worked for the Royal Institution for the Blind, North Adelaide, for about 30 years from its inception. • He was a founder of the Adelaide Y.M.C.A. and a director for about 40 years, including a stint as president. • Royal Agricultural Society for about 35 years and its President 1895–1897. He was instrumental in securing the Jubilee Exhibition Hall at Wayville for the Society in place of its site in the North Parklands. • He was one of the Charity Commissioners for thirty years. He was also involved with: • South Australian Cricketing Association • Chamber of Commerce • Chamber of Manufactures • Botanic Garden board • Adelaide Oval Sports Committee • National Park Board • Angas Charities Mission • Blind, Deaf, and Dumb Institution • Adelaide O.B.I. (Our Boys' Institute) • Bible Society (perhaps British and Foreign Bible Society) • Bible Reading in State Schools Board • Adelaide City Mission • Adelaide Sunday School Union South Australian Sunday Schools Union • Adelaide Aborigines' Society • Da Costa Samaritan Hospital Gilbert received no financial consideration from any of these activities and did not believe politicians should be paid. ==Personal==

Gilbert was a Bowls player. As old age bore down on him, Gilbert relinquished his many positions, but the Charity Commission was the last to go. He married again on 14 April 1904 to Jane Mossman "Jeanie" Simpson (née Davie) (c. 1837 – 15 April 1910) but had no children by either marriage. Jeanie was the mother of architect Alfred Edward Simpson. == References ==