HAS probably passed almost out of the memory of the present generation here, as it is more than twenty years since he left Adelaide for England. He was born in July, 1820, and at his death, which occurred during the present year, had reached the proverbial three-score epoch allotted to men. At the age of 17 he entered the Corps of Royal Engineers, and retired, after forty years' service, in 1877, as lieutenant-Colonel, with the honorary rank of Major-General. In January, 1849, soon after his marriage with a daughter of the late Sir H. Rivers, Bart., he came to South Australia, and was appointed Surveyor-General and Colonial Engineer, as successor to Colonel Frome. He had then risen to the rank of Captain, and in September of the same year was appointed one of the five paid Commissioners charged with the management of city affairs. He also for some time occupied the position of a member of the Central Road Board, and in 1855-6 was an official member of the Government, under the old Constitution. The first Parliament was elected in 1857, and Sir A. H. Freeling was chosen among others as
Hon, Thos. English, M.L.C.
member of the Legislative Council. On March 20, 1857, he resigned the Commissionership to Sir. S. Davenport, and in April, 1859, he retired from Parliament. In 1861 he gave up the Surveyor-Generalship, and shortly after left for England. In 1871, as fifth Baronet, he succeeded to the title and estates of Ford and Hastings, in Sussex. Since that period he has lived retired, but never lost his interest in South Australia. He was a Resident Fellow of the Royal Colonial Institute, and a most earnest worker on its behalf. He was of amiable disposition, and eminently respected for his kindness and affability.
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