Arthur Blyth
Sir
Arthur Blyth (
March 21 1823 -
February 15 1890) was
premier of
South Australia three times; 1864-1865, 1871-1872 and 1873-1875.
In 1850 he married Jessie Ann, daughter of Edward Forrest, who survived him with one son and two daughters. He was created
K.C.M.G. in 1877 and
C.B. in 1886. A good business man of great common sense Blyth was in eleven cabinets and was three times premier. It was, however, a difficult time for legislation and beyond the
Torrens real estate act which Blyth supported, comparatively little important legislation was passed in his period.
He was the son of William Blyth and his wife Sarah Wilkins, was born at
Birmingham on
21 March 1823. He was educated at
King Edward VI Grammar School, and arrived with his parents in South Australia in 1839. His father, who afterwards became a city councillor, established an
ironmongery business at
Adelaide, which Blyth entered with his brother Neville. He interested himself in municipal work and was a member of the central road board. In 1855 he was elected for
Yatala in the old
legislative council and assisted in framing the new constitution. Early in 1857 he was elected as one of the representatives of
Gumeracha in the first house of assembly, and in August became commissioner of public works in the
John Baker ministry which, however, was defeated on
1 September. On
12 June 1858 he was given the same position in the
Hanson ministry, which remained in power until May 1860. In October 1861 he held the
treasurer's portfolio in the
Waterhouse ministry which, however, was reconstructed nine days later, when Blyth dropped out. He came back to the ministry, however, as treasurer in February 1862, and was selected as one of the three representatives of South Australia at the intercolonial conference held shortly afterwards.
On
4 August 1864 Blyth, taking the positions of
premier and commissioner of crown lands and immigration, formed his first ministry, but it was difficult to do useful work, much time being wasted in no-confidence motions. Blyth resigned on
22 March 1865, was treasurer in the third ministry formed by
Henry Ayers but was out of office again in little more than a month. In March 1866 he became chief secretary in
James Boucaut's first ministry from March 1866 to May 1867. He was treasurer again in the first
John Hart ministry in September 1868, but this ministry was defeated three weeks later. He took the position of commissioner of crown lands and immigration in the second Hart ministry, which lasted from
30 May 1870 to
10 November 1871, when Blyth formed his second ministry, but resigned only ten weeks later.
On
22 July 1873 he again became premier and this time took the portfolio of chief secretary. This ministry was a comparatively stable one and lasted until June 1875. It succeeded in doing something for
immigration, and after a stern fight passed a free, secular, and compulsory education bill through the assembly. This was defeated in the council. It succeeded, however, in passing an act incorporating the university of Adelaide.
On
25 March 1876 Blyth became treasurer in the third Boucaut ministry which resigned less than three months later. In February 1877 he was appointed agent-general for South Australia in
London and held the position capably for many years. He was one of the representatives of South Australia at the 1887 colonial conference. He died in England on
7 December 1891.
The township of
Blyth in the Mid North of South Australia, is named in his honour.
