Daniel Fisher (11 November 1812 – 2 June 1884) was a grain merchant and politician in the young colony of South Australia.
Daniel Fisher was born in Bradford, Wiltshire, son of James Fisher (1785–1837) and his wife Sarah Fisher (c. 1787– ), and was transported to Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) aged 15, for what he was later to describe as "an unfortunate mistake" and "a boyish escapade, involving no moral offence" for which he was later exonerated and, on a petition from John Baker received a Royal Pardon. He married Harriet Brown in Hobart Town on 6 November 1837 (Rev. William Bedford officiating) and moved to South Australia aboard the Timbo, arriving at Port Adelaide in April 1846.
He set up in business as a cornfactor and seedsman (grain merchant) in Rundle Street. His brother Charles arrived in Adelaide in 1848, for a time working as a contractor then joined Daniel as "Fisher Brothers", [1] (not to be confused with the earlier hardware firm of the same name run by the unrelated James Hurtle Fisher). Charles left the partnership in October 1856 and set up in Grenfell Street on his own account. Daniel joined the gold rush to Victoria, but returned to Adelaide without having made a fortune. Other members of his family joined him in South Australia. He was convicted of assault after repeatedly charging his brother-in-law George P. Harris (co-founder of Harris Scarfe) on horseback and making threatening gestures. [2] In a letter to the Adelaide Times, D. Fisher stated that there was great provocation given. [3]
He was prominent in the defence of John Stephens, editor of the South Australian Register . [4] He served on the Adelaide City Council from 1852 to 1855 and retired from business in 1856. He visited England in 1861, and in 1865 contested the election for seat of East Torrens in the South Australian House of Assembly but was unsuccessful. Two years later one of the successful candidates, Neville Blyth, resigned on a point of honour, and Fisher won the resulting by-election and served from July 1867 to May 1870. [5] His colleagues were Randolph Isham Stow, who resigned in May 1868 then George Pearce. He was elected Mayor of the Town of Kensington and Norwood in 1862. [6]
About 1878 Fisher suffered a stroke, which left him paralysed, and withdrew totally from public life. In the last year he lost the use of his mental faculties. [7] He died at his home Nile Street, Glenelg.
Daniel Fisher (11 November 1812 – 2 June 1884) married 6 November 1837 at Hobart Town, Tasmania to Harriet Brown. They left for South Australia on board the Timbo, arriving 4 April 1846. (No record has yet been found for Harriet after her arrival in South Australia.) Daniel met, in Tasmania, his (common-law) wife Lucretia Kelk (c. 1813 – 2 February 1848). [8] Lucretia moved to Adelaide to be with him (speculation). He married Mary Reynolds (no record of a marriage found) (19 December 1829 – 5 May 1909) around 1850. His children included:
He had a brother and two sisters in South Australia:
Charles Fisher J.P. (c. 1824 – 27 November 1902), grain merchant, married Julia Humphreys Phillips, sister of W. Herbert Phillipps on 22 April 1858, later lived at "Parkholme", Wakefield Street, Kent Town. (Spelling is correct — W.H.P. changed his surname.)
Caroline Fisher ( – 27 March 1920 Sussex) married George Peter Harris (c. 1818 – 26 November 1873) on 14 November 1854 at the Wesleyan Chapel, North Adelaide. Harris, co-founder of Harris Scarfe, arrived in SA 10 February 1849 aboard Candahar. from Plymouth. They had 2 children, both born in South Australia:-
The family left South Australia on 14 January 1867; George Peter Harris died 26 November 1873 at "Castle House", Shooter's Hill, England.
Elizabeth Fisher (c. 1814 Wiltshire – 13 August 1892 Norwood) married 1843 (Wiltshire England) Alfred Pickford (c. 1820 – 16 April 1908). Elizabeth, Alfred and daughter Ellen arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the Marshall Bennett. His occupation was listed as "Carpenter". Alfred had a business in Rundle street, retired around 1870. They had one daughter:
Brothers and sisters who remained in England include:
John Fisher (1809 Bradford On Avon – 1861 Bradford On Avon), married Ann Billett
Eliza Fisher (1815 Bradford On Avon – c. 1874)
James Fisher (1822 Bradford On Avon – c. 1893 Wiltshire), married Amelia Gerrish
The Register, originally the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register, and later South Australian Register, was South Australia's first newspaper. It was first published in London in June 1836, moved to Adelaide in 1837, and folded into The Advertiser almost a century later in February 1931.
Sir John Morphett was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician. His younger brother George Morphett was also an early settler in South Australia.
William Giles, occasionally referred to as William Giles, sen. to distinguish him from his eldest son, was the third colonial manager of the South Australian Company, and a South Australian politician, prominent in the founding of the state of South Australia.
Robert Thomas was a Welsh newspaper proprietor, printer and early settler of South Australia who was born on a farm 'Rhantregynwen', at Llanymynech, Powys, Wales.
Adelaide Educational Institution was a privately run non-sectarian academy for boys in Adelaide founded in 1852 by John Lorenzo Young.
He avoided rote learning, punishment and religious instruction, but taught moral philosophy, physiology, political economy and mechanical drawing ... (and) surveying on field trips.
George Scarfe was a merchant in Adelaide, South Australia, a partner in the firm of George P. Harris, Scarfe, & Co., later known as Harris Scarfe. Called a "genius of commerce", he was largely credited with the firm's early success and gained great personal wealth. His brother T. R. Scarfe (1843–1915), nephew F. G. Scarfe (1867–1961) and Frederick George's son-in-law C. C. Deeley were prominent in the 20th century development of the company.
Thomas Burgoyne was a builder and politician in the early days of the colony of South Australia.
Charles Hervey Bagot, often referred to as "Captain Bagot", was an Irish-born South Australian pastoralist, mine owner and parliamentarian, and was the ancestor of a number of notable South Australian citizens.
William James Browne,, generally referred to as Dr. Browne, was a grazier and pastoralist in South Australia who was born and died in England. His brother, John Harris Browne, was a noted explorer and pastoralist in the same colony.
James Pearce was a South Australian businessman and politician based in Kapunda.
Charles Burney Young, generally referred to as C. B. Young, was a landholder, winemaker and politician in the early days of the colony of South Australia.
Joseph Barritt was a pastoralist and politician in the colony of South Australia.
George William Cole was a politician in the colony of South Australia.
Charles Fenn was a solicitor and member of the first Legislative Council in the Colony of South Australia.
Henry Lamshed was a farmer and politician in colonial South Australia.
Arthur Short was a politician in the British colony of South Australia.
Thomas Williams of Rushden Hall & Wanfield Lodge was a politician in the colony of South Australia, serving as a non-official acting member of the Legislative Council of South Australia from June 1843 to September 1843.
John Henry Mason Hawkes was a businessman in the early days of Adelaide, South Australia
George Peter Harris was the co-founder of the South Australian company that became Harris Scarfe.
Minna Pauline Fischer was an Australian lyric soprano and singing teacher in London.