Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/161

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
Dut]
DICTIONARY OF AUSTRALASIAN BIOGRAPHY.
[Ebd

suits in South Australia, and died in London in 1890, possessed of the famous Anlaby estate in that colony, and of personalty amounting to several hundred thousand pounds. The subject of this notice engaged in commercial pursuits in Victoria for two years; and in 1841 settled in South Australia, where his brother Frederick had preceded him. In 1843, when acting as overseer to the late Captain Bagot, he discovered the Kapunda Copper Mine, and in 1845 visited England, when he sold his interest in the mine to the East India firm of Cockerall, Larpert & Co., who made arrangements for working it. Mr. Dutton was a member of the mixed Legislative Council from 1851 to 1857, and of the Legislative Assembly from 1857 to 1865. He was Commissioner of Crown Lands and Immigration in the Hanson Ministry, from Sept. 1857 to June 1859, and in the Ministry of which he himself was Premier in July 1863. He formed his second Administration in March 1865, and remained in office till the following September, when he became Agent-General for South Australia in the United Kingdom. Mr. Dutton, who was an Associate of the Institute of Civil Engineers, and was created C.M.G. in Nov. 1872, died in London on Jan. 25th, 1877, whilst still occupying the position of Agent-General. He was the author of "South Australia and its Mines" (1846).


E

Eager, Hon. Geoffrey, J. P., the son of Richard Eager, who came of a good Irish stock, was born in Sydney in 1818, and educated at Cape's school. He was appointed to the Legislative Council in 1859, and was Secretary for Public Works in Mr. Forster’s Ministry, from Oct. 1859 to March 1860. After resigning his seat in the Council he was elected for West Sydney in July 1863; and was Treasurer in Mr. (afterwards Sir) James Martin's first Ministry, from Oct. 1863 to Feb. 1865. In 1865 he was re-elected for West Sydney, and was Treasurer in the second Martin Ministry, from Jan. 1866 to Oct. 1868. He was appointed permanent Under Secretary to the Treasury in Feb. 1872, and retained the post till his death on Sept. 12th, 1891.

Eaton, Henry Francis, J.P., Under-Treasurer, Victoria, son of William Eaton and Esther (Haseldine) his wife, was born at East Bridgeford, Nottingham-shire, on Sept. 16th, 1831. He emigrated to Victoria with a view of going to the gold diggings, but sixteen days after his arrival in Jan. 1853, was appointed clerk in the office of the Colonial Storekeeper, Melbourne. Mr. Eaton was transferred to the Civil Commissariat in Feb. 1854, and inspected the accounts of the department at all the principal goldfields. He was appointed Accountant of the Government Stores in Feb. 1855, transferred to the Treasury in March 1865, appointed Accountant to the Treasury on Feb. 1st, 1887, and Under-Treasurer of Victoria (permanent head of the Treasury) on Sept. 10th, 1889, which office he still holds. Mr. Eaton is Chairman of the Police Superannuation Board, a Justice of the Peace, and a captain (retired) Victorian Volunteer Artillery. He married at St. Paul's Church, Kyneton, Victoria, on Jan. 17th, 1860, Miss Elizabeth Davy.

Ebden, Hon. Charles Hotson, sometime Auditor-General and Treasurer of Victoria, was born in London in 1811, and when little more than twenty emigrated to New South Wales, where he took up pastoral country on the Murray and invested a large sum of money in stock and improvements. In 1836 he decided to explore the Port Phillip district in search of suitable sheep country. In the result he formed a station south of the Goulburn, in what is now Victoria, and later on at Carlsruhe. He formed the first crossing-place over the Murray at Albury, and the nine thousand sheep which he sent to Carlsruhe from his New South Wales station in March 1837 were the first sheep which came into Victoria overland. In July 1843 Mr. Ebden was returned at the head of the poll as one of the first four members sent by Port Phillip to the New South Wales Legislative Council, which was then the sole chamber, this election being the first for members of Parliament which ever took place in Australia. Mr. Ebden sat in the New South Wales Legislative Council

145