B. T. Finniss
| B. T. Finniss | |
|---|---|
 |
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| 1st Premier of South Australia | |
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In office 24 October 1856 – 20 August 1857 |
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| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir Richard MacDonnell |
| Succeeded by | John Baker |
| Member of the South Australian Parliament for City of Adelaide |
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In office 9 March 1857 – 22 March 1860 Serving with Sir Robert Torrens, Judah Solomon, Sir Richard Hanson, John Neales, William Burford, William Owen |
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| Preceded by | New District |
| Succeeded by | Philip Santo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Boyle Travers Finniss 18 August 1807 Born at sea |
| Died | 24 December 1893 (aged 86) Adelaide, South Australia |
| Resting place | West Terrace Cemetery |
| Nationality | British |
| Spouse(s) | Anne Frances Rogerson (1835–1858) Sophia Florence Maud Lynch |
| Religion | Anglicanism |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1825–1835 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit |
88th Regiment 56th Regiment 82nd Regiment |
Boyle Travers Finniss (18 August 1807 – 24 December 1893) was the first Premier of South Australia, serving from 24 October 1856 to 20 August 1857.
Finniss was born at sea and lived in Madras from where he was sent to Greenwich for his education. He later entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, placing first of sixteen candidates at the entrance examination. In 1825 he became an ensign in the 88th Regiment of Foot, was promoted lieutenant in 1827 to the 56th (West Essex) Regiment of Foot, and then spent three years in Mauritius in the department of roads and bridges.
In 1835 Finniss sold off his commission and, having been appointed assistant surveyor under surveyor-general Colonel William Light, arrived in South Australia in September 1836. He supported Light's choice of the site of Adelaide and assisted in laying out the city; his correspondence during the early years shows him to have been a man of good judgment and he was an able assistant during the surveys.
Finniss joined Light in a private surveying firm, Light, Finniss & Co. While in private enterprise, Light and Finniss surveyed several towns, including Glenelg and Gawler. He also had several other business interests, but they eventually all failed, and he returned to the public service.
In 1839 Finniss was appointed deputy surveyor-general, in 1843 he became commissioner of police and police magistrate. In 1847 he was made Treasurer of South Australia and registrar general, and in 1851 was nominated to the South Australian Legislative Council by the governor Sir Henry Young.
In 1852 he was appointed Colonial Secretary of South Australia, and in July 1853 had charge of the bill to provide for two chambers in the South Australian parliament. In the interim between the departure of Governor Young in December 1854 and the arrival of Sir Richard Graves McDonnell in June 1855, Finniss acted as administrator. The bill of 1853 was rejected by the British government, and a new bill was brought forward in 1855 providing for two purely elective houses. This received the royal assent in 1856.
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