Thomas English

Thomas English (9 July 1820 – 17 December 1884) was a leading colonial architect in South Australia, Mayor of Adelaide (1862–1863), and a member of the South Australian Legislative Council 1865–1878 and 1882–1884.

Early life Thomas English was born on 9 July 1820 in Maryport, Cumberland, England. His father, who had fought in the Peninsular War against Napoleon, died when Thomas was three.

He left England with his wife Margaret, and her brother Henry Brown, a builder, bound for the colony of South Australia. which was under the command of English's brother James. and in the James Boucaut Ministry from the latter date till 3 May 1867. the source of freestone for many of Adelaide's public buildings. They were first on Carrington Street, and later (1859) in Waymouth Street. Their partnership was dissolved when English was elected to parliament in 1865. for E. T. Smith.

In August 1879, English called for tenders to undertake the construction work to rebuild the Crown and Anchor Hotel in Grenfell Street. A new two-storey building was constructed to replace the former single-storey building later that year to English's designs, costing around £1,534. English & Soward advertised for tenders for stabling at the rear of the building in March 1880.

Between 1878 and 1881, Edwin Smith employed English and Soward to rebuild at least two hotels, the Old Colonist in Angas Street and the Torrens Arms in Kingswood, and design alterations to four others.

Other works designed by English include: Scots Church on North Terrace (built 1851; heritage-listed) Princess Berkeley Hotel, Hindley Street, Adelaide (built 1878 for T. G. Waterhouse) locally heritage-listed in August 2000

Later life and legacy Thomas English died at his residence in Parkside on 17 December 1884.

Several of his buildings were heritage-listed and remain today.