G. S. Wright

George Speller Wright (11 January 1845 – 1 January 1935), generally referred to as G. S. Wright, was an Australian banker, the first Inspector-General of the State Bank of South Australia. His middle name is very commonly misspelled as "Spiller".

History Wright was born in Abbot's Place, North Adelaide, the son of John Speller Wright (1812 – 8 February 1846) and his wife Martha Wright, née Darby (18 September 1810 – 6 August 1876), who arrived in South Australia in August 1839 aboard Somersetshire from London. Martha's brothers Thomas and John, John Darby's wife Mary and her sister Ann, and Ann's husband Joseph Peck were also on board.

Wright's father, a tailor in Hindley Street, died when he was barely 12 months old. No information has come to light as to the upbringing of Wright and his sister Amelia Ann, around four years his senior. There was no notice in the newspapers of their mother's death in 1876. He received some education at J. L. Young's Adelaide Educational Institution, but was not among the list of prize-winners, and was not mentioned in connection with school reunions. He began his business life with the auctioneers Townsend, Botting & Kay, followed by a brief stint with solicitors Belt, Cullen & Wigley, which he left for a position in the office of the Register. From there he joined the office of solicitors Hicks, Daly & Price. (at the time a South Australian public service position), and when a vacancy opened for a clerk in the Under-secretary's office, he was the successful applicant. In 1866 Wright became clerk in the Crown Lands office and two years later promoted to clerk in the Chief Secretary's office. In 1860 he was appointed chief clerk in the Treasury department, and in 1873 promoted to accountant and receiver of revenue. then Acting Under-Secretary 1879–1882, and served as Superintendent of Census in 1881. In 1882 he was appointed secretary to the Commissioner of Crown Lands, serving in that position for 14 years. During that time he received favorable attention in Parliament for his proposal for a wheat map.

Other interests Wright was elected Mayor of Henley and Grange for the years 1916–17 and 1917–18.

Family Wright married Emma Elwin Olifent (21 April 1846 who married Samuel Summers (c. 1830 – 11 June 1906) on 29 May 1858. Samuel was the youngest son of Rev. Samuel Summers of Bristol.