The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Giles, William
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Giles, William, was born at Great Staughton, in Huntingdonshire, on Dec. 27th, 1791. Having obtained an appointment under the South Australian Company at the start of its operations in 1836, he arrived at Kangaroo Island, where its headquarters were at first fixed, in the following year. He was appointed a Stipendiary Magistrate shortly after his arrival, and in 1840 succeeded Mr. McLaren as manager of the South Australian Company. In 1851 he was returned to the mixed Legislative Council in Yatala, and took part in framing the present Constitution Act. He belonged to the Congregationalist body, and was a strong opponent of State Aid to religion, which was finally abolished in 1851. He died in Adelaide in 1861.