John Morphett

Sir John Morphett (4 May 1809 – 7 November 1892) was a South Australian pioneer, landowner and politician. His younger brother George Morphett was also an early settler in South Australia.

Early life Morphett was born in London, the second son of Nathaniel Morphett, a solicitor, and his wife Mary, née Gliddon, of Cummins, Ide, Devon. At 16 he started as an office boy in the employ of a ship broker, Henry Blanshard. With his younger brother George, he set up an agency business and published a pamphlet declaring his intention of migrating to South Australia and his readiness to act for purchasers of land. He also advertised in similar terms in the Globe and Traveller, 30 July 1835.

Arrival in South Australia On 20 March 1836, Morphett sailed for South Australia in the Cygnet, which arrived at Kangaroo Island on 11 September 1836. On 5 November 1836, the Cygnet arrived at Holdfast Bay. Next day, with Lieutenant Field and George Strickland Kingston, he explored the River Torrens. With others on the Cygnet, he also identified the mouth of the Port River, identified the suitability of Port Adelaide, and visited Port Lincoln with Light. At the crucial meeting on 10 February 1837, he played a decisive role in confirming the choice of Adelaide for a settlement.

On 15 August 1838 he married Elizabeth Hurtle Fisher, the eldest daughter of James Hurtle Fisher (later Sir James), whom he had first met at the meetings of the South Australian Literary Association in London. They were married at Trinity Church, South Australia's first Anglican Church.

As a land agent for the South Australian Company, he secured valuable land for his family and clients; he was energetic, enthusiastic sensible and lucky, and profited greatly from a multitude of land transactions. A Secondary Towns Association was formed in England in 1838, and Morphett became the local Colonial Representative for that Association. In this capacity he often engaged the services of John Hill in exploring for survey sites, while also exploring himself. In May 1839 he paid £4,000 for a Special Survey of of land along the Hutt River, and in November 1939 he bought 8,000 acres on the River Murray which became the Wood's Point Estate. During November 1841, as one of the trustees for Lt. Col. George Gawler, Morphett selected land in sections 1553 and 1554 to the south of the Barossa South Survey.

In December 1839, Morphett was elected Director of the South Australian Railway Company. In 1842, he became one of four members appointed by the Crown to assist the Governor, and was also elected Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce. Morphett was one of the originators of the Agricultural and Horticultural Society, presiding over the introductory meeting on 24 April 1844. In April 1846, he became a member of the Committee of management of the English Railway Company which proposed to lay a railway along Port Road. He was a director of the Adelaide Mining Company, and also a director of the South Australian Mining Association which owned the Burra mine. When the Adelaide Cricket Club was formed in 1853, Morphett became its vice-president and his father-in-law, J.H. Fisher, its president.

Political life Morphett was appointed treasurer to the town corporation on 5 December 1840, and on 15 June 1843 was nominated as one of four non-official members of the expanded South Australian Legislative Council. In January 1845 he chaired the meeting called to protest the British government's proposal to send Parkhurst prison boys to South Australia. In September 1846, as a protest against the mining royalty bill being passed by the casting vote of Governor Robe, Morphett and the three other non-official council members left the chamber – in consequence the council was left without a quorum. In August 1851 Morphett became Speaker of the enlarged Legislative Council, and on 9 March 1857 he was elected a member of the legislative council at the first election under responsible government. He was chief secretary in the Thomas Reynolds ministry from February to October 1861, and on 31 March 1865 was elected President of the South Australian Legislative Council, a position he held until his retirement. He was knighted on 16 February 1870 for his services to South Australia. In February 1873 he retired from politics and public life. His sons Hurtle and John Cummins took over the running of his properties along the Murray.

Death Morphett died at his home, Cummins House, Novar Gardens, on 7 November 1892. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth, six daughters and four of his five sons.

Legacy Morphett had faith in the colony from the beginning: although he realized that for a period South Australia would be regarded as a pastoral colony, depending chiefly on its export of wool, as early as 1838 he had hopes of raising wine, olive oil, figs, maize, flax, silk, rice, indigo and tobacco.

Morphett supported Fisher and Gouger in their quarrels with Hindmarsh, later becoming a force in the Legislative Council, and he worked hard for responsible government. He took an active part in the formation of the Literary Association and the Mechanics Institute, and was an early supporter of St Peter's College. He was one of the earliest men to take an interest in horse racing in South Australia, and Morphettville Racecourse was named after him. Also named after him were the suburbs of Morphettville and Morphett Vale, Morphett Street in the Adelaide city centre, Morphett Road in the city's western suburbs and the state electoral district of Morphett.

Family

Parents John was born on 4 May 1809 in London, England, the second son of Nathaniel and Mary, née Gliddon.

Siblings His siblings included: George Morphett (1811–1893). Nathaniel Morphett (1807–1828) Mary Morphett (1813–1830)

Children John Morphett (1809–1892) married Elizabeth Hurtle Fisher (1815–1905) on 15 August 1838 at Holy Trinity Church, Adelaide.

John and Elizabeth had 12 children with their first child stillborn. Married Lived Notes 0. Stillborn male 1. Mary William Mair 1840- 2. Amy Gawler Charles William May JP (1831–1873) married 1861 1841–1922 Seven children 3. Ada Fisher Harry Lockett Ayers (1844–1905) Married 1866 1843–1939 Harry was the second son of Sir Henry Ayers 4. John Cummins Mary Frances married 1875 1844–1936 married 1864 St Peter's Church Glenelg SA 1846–1940 Lived (and died) in New Zealand 6. George Cooper unmarried 1849–1868 Died aged 19 10. Hurtle Willoughby unmarried 1855–1938 11. Marian Fisher Georgina 1) Edward Mammatt Colley2) Frederick Goldsmid Levi (–1934) 1859–1931

Grandchildren

+ John Morphett's grandchildren included: Child Lived Father Mother Born Notes George Cummins 1876–1963 John Cummins Mary Frances SANDERS Adelaide 3rd owner of "Cummins" Annie Elizabeth 1879 John Cummins Mary Frances SANDERS Adelaide Bessey 1880 John Cummins Mary Frances SANDERS New Glenelg Mary Eleanor 1882 John Cummins Mary Frances SANDERS Glenelg Lucy 1883 John Cummins Mary Frances SANDERS Glenelg Amy Mabel MAY 1866–1953 Charles William May Amy Gawler Married George Walpole Leake (1825–1895) in 1893.

Fourth generation

+ John Morphett's great-grandchildren included: Child Birthdate Father Mother Where Notes Audrey Cummins OBE 27 May 1902 George Cummins Violet Alice ANDERSON Mount Gambier Awarded Queen Elizabeth II's coronation medal in 1953, OBE in 1960.She never married, died 8 October 1983 Hurtle Cummins 31 March 1906 George Cummins Violet Alice ANDERSON Corowa, NSW Married Joan, daughter of Sir William Goodman on 16 March 1937,4th owner of "Cummins", he sold the property to the State Government for ~$200,000 in 1977.

Fifth generation John Cummins Morphett (1943-), last generation to live in Cummins, is the son of Hurtle Cummins Morphett