G. S. Kingston
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Sir George Strickland Kingston |
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| Born |
23 August 1807 Bandon, County Cork, Ireland |
| Died | 26 November 1880 (aged 73) aboard the RMS Malwa on his way to India |
| Resting place | buried at sea |
| Residence | Bandon, County Cork, Ireland; Birmingham, South Australia |
| Occupation | surveyor, civil engineer, architect |
| Spouse(s) | Henrietta Ann McDonough (1807–1839, Ludovina Catherina da Silva Cameron (1824–1851), Emma Mary Ann Catherine Berry Lipson (1816–1876) |
| Children | Ludovina Cameron Kingston, b. 16 March 1842; Hester Holland Kingston, b. 30 October 1843; Charlotte Julian Kingston, b. 11 September 1845; George John Finnis Kingston, b. 26 May 1847; Strickland Gough Kingston, b. 18 December 1848; Charles Cameron Kingston, b. 22 October 1850 |
| Parent(s) | George Kingston and Hester Holland |
| Member of South Australian Legislative Council | |
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In office 10 July 1851 – 2 February 1857 |
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| Member for The Burra and Clare in the South Australian House of Assembly | |
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In office 9 March 1857 – 22 March 1860 |
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| first Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly of House of Assembly | |
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In office 22 April 1857 – 22 March 1860 |
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| Member for Stanley in the South Australian House of Assembly | |
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In office 6 May 1861 – 26 November 1880 |
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| Speaker of House of Assembly | |
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In office 31 March 1865 – 26 November 1880 |
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Sir George Strickland Kingston (23 August 1807 – 26 November 1880) arrived in South Australia on the Cygnet in 1836. He was the Deputy Surveyor to William Light, engaged to survey the new colony of South Australia. Kingston was also the first Speaker of the South Australian House of Assembly.
Kingston was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland, one of five children of George Kingston and Hester Holland. Strickland's father owned a lumberyard, a tenement (Kingston Buildings), and was credited with being involved in the three canal plans for Bandon. Strickland emigrated to England and was employed in Birmingham in 1832. He subsequently took an active part in promoting the South Australian Act in 1834 and helped to lobby successfully for its passage through the House of Commons.
Kingston was appointed deputy surveyor general to the new colony and sailed with most of the surveying party in the Cygnet in March 1836. Because he detoured to Rio de Janeiro for supplies the Cygnet did not arrive at Nepean Bay until 11 September 1836, nearly a month after Colonel William Light, who was therefore left short-handed at a critical time. However it was Kingston with John Morphett and Lieutenant W.G. Field who discovered the River Torrens, and the surveys of the city site were largely carried out under Kingston's supervision. The balance of credit due to Kingston and to Light in surveying the city of Adelaide has often been discussed.
Kingston's ability as a surveyor was frequently questioned and it was he who was spared to return to England in August 1837 to ask for reinforcements for the Survey Department. The colonisation commissioners sent him back next June with orders unpalatable to Light, who resigned with all his staff. Kingston proceeded with the country surveys almost single-handed but, soon after Governor George Gawler's arrival in October 1838, he resigned.
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