Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 1.djvu/171

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Berry
151
Berry

to a residentiary canonry. He succeeded to the chancellorship of the cathedral in 1879, and from 1880 to 1895 represented the chapter in convocation.

Bernard was as zealous a cathedral dignitary as he was an energetic town rector. He revived the cathedral grammar school, at his own cost provided buildings for it, established a high school for girls, and interested himself in the general parochial life of Wells. An evangelical whom all trusted, though unfettered by party conventions, Bernard was a frequent speaker at the Islington clerical meeting, He resigned Walcot in 1886, and went to live at Wimborne. In 1901 he retired from his canonry, retaining only the unpaid office of chancellor. He died at High Hall, Wimborne, on 7 Dec. 1904. Bernard combined the qualities of the student and the man of affairs, of the wise counsellor in private and the clear, cogent teacher in public. He married in 1841 Caroline, daughter of Benjamin Linthorne, of High Hall, Wimborne; she died in 1881, leaving two sons and seven daughters.

Besides the works noticed, Bernard published: 1. 'Before His Presence with a Song,' 1885; 2nd edit. 1887. 2. 'The Central Teaching of Jesus Christ,' 1892. 3. 'Songs of the Holy Nativity,' 1895. 4. 'The Word and Sacraments,' 1904.

[Guardian, 14 Dec. 1904; Record, 9 Dec. 1904; The Times, 8 Dec. 1904; Foster's Alumni Oxon.; E. Stock, History of the C.M.S., 1899, ii. 359, 387 and iii. 10; private information.]

A. R. B.


BERRY, Sir GRAHAM (1822–1904), prime minister of Victoria, born at Twickenham, England, on 28 Aug. 1822, was son of Benjamin Berry, a retired tradesman, by his wife Clara Graham. After education at Chelsea he was apprenticed to a draper and silk mercer there, and subsequently in 1848 or 1849 opened a small shop in the King's Road. Emigrating to Victoria in 1852, he went into business as a general storekeeper and wine and spirit merchant at South Yarra, Prahran. In 1856 he revisited England on business connected with his father's will.

In 1860 he purchased in Victoria a newspaper called the 'Collingwood Observer,' and in the next year entered the legislative assembly of Victoria as member for East Melbourne. At the general election in August 1861 he was returned for Collingwood as an advanced liberal protectionist. He supported the ministry of Sir James McCulloch [q. v.] in its struggle with the legislative council, which refused to sanction the assembly's imposition of protectionist duties (1863-6). But when McCulloch failed in his plan of 'tacking' the customs bill to the appropriation bill, and sought to borrow from a bank in order to meet the public expenditure, Berry withdrew his support. In the ensuing election (1865) McCulloch routed all opponents, and Berry, losing his seat, was out of parliament for three years.

In 1866 Berry purchased the 'Geelong Register,' amalgamated it with the 'Geelong Advertiser,' and settled in Geelong to edit his new venture. He shortly stood for South Grant and was beaten; in 1868 he became member for Geelong West. On 12 Jan. 1870 he became treasurer in the government of John Alexander Macpherson, but the ministry fell almost immediately after his first budget speech. On 19 June 1871 he entered the ministry of Sir Charles Gavan Duffy [q.v. Suppl. II] as treasurer, but resigned on 21 May 1872: a private member attacked him in the house for having appointed his father-in-law to a local post of some emolument, and to avoid embarrassing the government he resumed the status of a private member. The charge was investigated by a select committee which never reported (see Victorian Parl. Deb. 1872, xiv.). Six months later the ministry went out of office.

In August 1875 Berry for the first time became prime minister and chief secretary. Introducing a land tax bill which was intended to strike at the undue accumulations of large holders, he was defeated, and on the refusal of his application for a dissolution Sir James McCulloch (20 Oct. 1875) returned to power. A great fight in the assembly followed; the 'stonewallers,' as Berry's followers were called, were met by what was known as McCulloch's 'iron hand.' In the intervals of parliamentary attendance Berry stumped the country, denouncing McCulloch's government and making a good impression. At the general election in May 1877 Berry obtained an overwhelming majority. He failed to form a coalition with James Service and the prominent opponents of McCulloch, and with a less representative cabinet set to work on a series of highly controversial measures. He revived the main features of his old land bill, and endeavoured to carry the payment of members, first by tacking a resolution to the appropriation bill and then by framing a separate bill to authorise the payment. A stern fight with the upper house produced an administrative deadlock, which lasted from May 1877