Philip Fysh

Sir Philip Oakley Fysh (1 March 1835 – 20 December 1919) was an English-born Australian politician. He arrived in Tasmania in 1859 and became a leading merchant in Hobart. He served two terms as premier of Tasmania (1877–1878, 1887–1892) and became a leader of the colony's federation movement. He subsequently won election to the new federal House of Representatives (1901–1910) and was invited to represent Tasmania in the first federal ministry, serving as minister without portfolio (1901–1903) and Postmaster-General (1903–1904).

Early life Fysh was born on 1 March 1835 in Highbury, London, England. He was the son of Charlotte and John Fysh. His father's family were originally from Norfolk.

Fysh attended school in Denmark Hill until the age of thirteen and subsequently began working as an office boy for a stockbroker. After two years he began working as a clerk for L. Stevenson & Sons, a shipping firm. After ten years of service, Fysh was appointed manager of Stevenson & Sons' agency in the colony of Tasmania. while his great-nephew Hudson Fysh was a founder of Qantas.

Fysh died on 20 December 1919 in Sandy Bay, Tasmania.

Fysh was married under the rites of the Dissenters. In Hobart he was a member of the Davey Street Congregational Church.

Honours Fysh was created a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in January 1896. The Canberra suburb of Fyshwick was named after him.