State Library of South Australia

Thomas John King [B 26069] • Photograph

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Summary

Thomas John King, Mayor of Port Adelaide.

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Physical description

Photograph; 14.7 cm x 10 cm

Dates / Publication details

Approximately 1885

Collection

Part of Portrait Collection

Subject

King, Thomas John, 1817-1885

Catalogue record

Return to catalogue

Historical information

Thomas John King was born in Hythe Kent UK 1817, son of Thomas King, Innkeeper. Married in Cheltenham, to Jane Pellett 1830, where he was also an Innkeeper. They came to South Australia aboard the "Duke of Wellington" arriving Port Adelaide 18th April 1855, together with their only child, Thomas John, and Jane's mother. In July 1855 Thomas applied for a license to teach at a school near the Grand Junction. Jane King died in December 1858, in Queenstown. In June 1859 he married fellow teacher, Emma Coombs. They had three children - Frederick Martin born 1860, Emma Jane born 1862 and Charlotte Elizabeth born 1864. A report of the Central Board of Education for 1861 showed Thomas as teacher of Port Adelaide School with 123 pupils. The Inspector's remarks were "Mr. King, the teacher of this school, has happily succeeded in inspiring the pupils with that untiring energy and perseverance for which he himself is so remarkable. The result is one of the most successful schools in the Province. Mrs. King forms a valuable auxilliary. In 1862 Thomas applied to remove his school to the Wesleyan Chapel, which had recently been purchased for that purpose, with the intention of adding large class rooms and a gallery, with a view to establishing an infants' school. Permission was granted. Concurrent with his teaching career, Thomas found time to help set up the Port Adelaide Investment Society around 1865, and act as its secretary. He was also a Freemason and Master of the Grand Lodge of South Australia in 1868 and 1869. In 1880 he was the Provincial Grand Secretary. After the amalgamation of the 33 separate Masonic Lodges in South Australia under the Grand Lodge of South Australia, Thomas became The Grand Inspector of Lodges. Prior to its absorption within the Port Municipality, Thomas also officiated as Clerk of the Portland Estate District Council. A conscientious churchman, he was one of the oldest attendants at St. Pauls Church. By 1875, Thomas was Chairman of the Parents and Teachers Association and represented the teachers in their efforts to obtain allowances for teachers of long standing who were requested to retire. Also in 1875 he became a Justice of the Peace. In 1882 he was elected Mayor of the Corporation of the Town of Port Adelaide, an office he held until resigning, due to failing health, just two weeks before his death. He died on 18th December 1885, at the age of 69 years. He was buried with full Masonic rites, and it was the first of a Grand Lodge Officer. His funeral was attended by 100 members of the lodge, and the coffin was born by pallbearers who were old school pupils. The chief mourners were the Mayor and Town Clerk in robes, the Chairman and Directors of Port Adelaide Building Society, and the Semaphore Council. When the procession reformed after the service, it extended from the church to Commercial Road. There were hundreds of people in the streets, the shops were shuttered and business suspended, and the Town Hall Bell tolled. The cortège comprised about fifty vehicles. Thomas is buried in Cheltenham Cemetery, with his second wife, Emma, (died 1902), their son Frederick (died 1918) and youngest daughter, Charlotte (died 1929). The headstone is still standing and in good condition. Thomas John King was the Great Great Grandfather of Coral Haeusler, though his son with his first wife, Jane, who was also called Thomas John King. Information provided by Coral Haeusler (June 2010).

Digitisation information

Date

23/07/2007

Format

image/tiff

Resolution

2,670 x 4,036 pixels (10.8 MP)

Size

32.36 MB

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