Judge William Charles Windeyer, c. 1890, by Freeman and Co
6th Chancellor of the University of Sydney
In office 1895–1896
Preceded by
William Manning
Succeeded by
Henry MacLaurin
6th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney
In office 1883–1886
Preceded by
Robert Allwood
Succeeded by
Henry MacLaurin
Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales
In office August 1881 (1881-08) – 31 August 1896 (1896-08-31)
16th Attorney General of New South Wales
In office 22 March 1877 (1877-03-22) – 16 August 1877 (1877-08-16)
Preceded by
William Dalley
Succeeded by
William Dalley
In office 21 December 1878 (1878-12-21) – 10 August 1879 (1879-08-10)
Preceded by
William Foster
Succeeded by
Robert Wisdom
14th Solicitor General for New South Wales
In office 16 December 1870 (1870-12-16) – 13 May 1872 (1872-05-13)
Preceded by
Julian Salomons
Succeeded by
Joseph Innes
Personal details
Born
(1834-09-29)29 September 1834 London, United Kingdom
Died
11 September 1897(1897-09-11) (aged 62) Bologna, Italy
Spouse(s)
Mary Elizabeth, née Bolton
Children
5 daughters including Margaret; three sons including Richard and William
Parent(s)
Richard Windeyer; Maria Camfield
Education
The King's School, Sydney
Alma mater
University of Sydney
Sir William Charles Windeyer (29 September 1834 – 11 September 1897) was an Australian politician and judge.
As a New South Wales politician he was responsible for the creation of Belmore Park (north of the new Central railway constructed in 1874 in Haymarket), Lang Park (in Church Hill, between York, Lang and Grosvenor Streets in the city), Observatory Park (on Flagstaff Hill in the west Rocks) and Cromwell Park at the head of Long Bay, Malabar and parks on Clark, Rodd, and Snapper Islands. He was also the author of the New South Wales Patents Act and the Married Women's Property Act of 1879.[1]
As a judge he was able, conscientious and hard-working, and had much knowledge of law. He had the misfortune to preside over two notorious cases, the Mount Rennie rape case and the Dean trials, which caused much popular feeling, and gave him the reputation in some quarters of being a "hanging" judge. His friends agreed that this estimate was far from his character, and that though he had a brusque exterior he was really a man of noble qualities. This estimate is in conformity with the fact that he was appointed president of the charities commission in 1873, and that he was responsible for the founding of the Discharged Prisoners Aid Society in 1874. An example of his courage and common sense is his judgment on the case dealing with the proceedings arising out of Annie Besant's pamphlet, The Law of Population, which was published separately in 1889 under the title, Ex Parte Collins.[1][2]
Windeyer took much interest in education, was a trustee of the Sydney Grammar School, president of the Sydney Mechanics' School of Arts, and a trustee of the public library.[3] He was Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1883 to 1887 and Chancellor from 1895 to 1896. He was also first chairman of the council of the women's college at the university.[1] He was given the honorary degree of LL.D. by the University of Cambridge, and knighted in 1891.[1][4]
^ abcdSerle, Percival (1949). "Windeyer,, Sir William Charles (1834-1897)". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
^"Windeyer, Sir William Charles (1834–1897)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7. ISSN 1833-7538. OCLC 70677943. Retrieved 31 October 2020.
^Dunn, Mark (2012). "Windeyer, William Charles". Dictionary of Sydney. Dictionary of Sydney Trust. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
^"No. 26182". The London Gazette. 14 July 1891. p. 3722.
and 22 Related for: William Charles Windeyer information
Sir WilliamCharlesWindeyer (29 September 1834 – 11 September 1897) was an Australian politician and judge. As a New South Wales politician he was responsible...
politician Richard Windeyer and grandfather of politician and judge WilliamCharlesWindeyer. Windeyer, J. B. (1967). "Windeyer, Charles (1780 - 1855)"....
Windeyer may refer to: People Brian Windeyer Vice-Chancellor of London University (1969-72) CharlesWindeyer (1780–1855), Australian magistrate Chris Windeyer...
Major General Sir William John Victor Windeyer, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar, ED, QC, PC (28 July 1900 – 23 November 1987) was an Australian judge, soldier, educator...
18. In 1891 she married Richard Windeyer KC (1864–1957), a barrister. His grandfather was Sir WilliamCharlesWindeyer. He attended Sydney Church of England...
wear gowns for the occasion), but was beaten by WilliamCharlesWindeyer 49 votes to 43. When Windeyer resigned, Barton won the 1879 by-election. When...
December 1857 Mary married WilliamCharlesWindeyer, then a barrister and law reporter for the Empire. Coincidentally William's mentor, Henry Parkes, emigrated...
and educator, was a Justice of the High Court of Australia Sir WilliamCharlesWindeyer John Woolley Hon Mr Justice Edward Wise James Wolfensohn AO KBE...
professor of chemistry and experimental physics was John Smith. Sir WilliamCharlesWindeyer was the first graduate. The university was Australia's first, as...
1832 Richard Windeyer married Maria née Camfield and their only child, WilliamCharlesWindeyer, was born on 29 September 1834. Windeyer studied law and...
State Archives & Records. "Hon. Sir William Montagu Manning". NSW State Archives & Records. "Windeyer, Sir WilliamCharles (1834–1897)". Australian Dictionary...
nine children of judge and politician WilliamCharlesWindeyer and suffragist Mary Elizabeth Windeyer. Windeyer was a member of the Women's Literary Society...
his "appointment appears to be so wholly unjustifiable [to Justice WilliamWindeyer ] as to have led to the utterance by him of such expressions and opinions … as...
in 1890 served as associate to Justice WilliamCharlesWindeyer of the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Windeyer had a reputation for being a harsh and...
Sir William Montagu Manning KCMG, QC (20 June 1811 – 27 February 1895) was an English-born Australian politician, judge and University of Sydney chancellor...
Parliament of New South Wales. Retrieved 31 October 2020. "Sir WilliamCharlesWindeyer (1834–1897)". Former members of the Parliament of New South Wales...
Ireland) (d. 1893) 21 July – James Charles Cox, physician and conchologist (d. 1912) 29 September – Sir WilliamCharlesWindeyer, New South Wales politician...
represented by three of the colony's foremost barristers, William Foster, William à Beckett and Richard Windeyer, paid for by an association of landowners and stockmen...
Global Information