Global InformationWilliam Henville Burford information
William Henville Burford (24 January 1807 – 23 October 1895) was an apprenticed butcher with some experience as a tallow merchant and chandler in Cannon Street, St George's East, in the East End of London. In 1838 he emigrated to South Australia for his health's sake with his wife and three daughters on the Pestonjee Bomanjee, arriving at Glenelg on 11 October.[1] Initially he found work as a painter and glazier, and soon had one of the larger businesses in the Colony.[2] In 1840, when a recession had made those trades unprofitable, he was able to start a soap and candle factory, W. H. Burford & Sons, in 134 (154?) Grenfell Street.[3] The business failed several times, but revived with the opening of the Burra copper mine in 1848, then the Moonta and Wallaroo mines around 1863.[4]
Burford was an alderman of the Adelaide Town Council for 1840 and 1841. During his second term he earned the nickname of "ninepenny dips" for his proposal to more than double the council rates to that figure (and "dip" being a form of candle), and was reviled for proposing other stringencies.[5] He was not elected the following year and was vindicated when the Council collapsed, bankrupt.
Burford was elected to the South Australian House of Assembly for the seat of City of Adelaide in 1857.[6][7] He was prominent in debates and a strong supporter of Robert Torrens' Real Property Act, but resigned in 1859.
Burford was a devout churchgoer, worshipping with the Independent Baptists, then Scotch Baptists and finally the Unley Church of Christ.[4]
- ^ Diane Cummings. "Bound for South Australia: Passenger Lists 1836-1851". State Library of South Australia.
- ^ "Messrs W. H. Burford & Co's (sic) Jubilee". The Advertiser. 4 November 1890. p. 6. Retrieved 8 July 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ "Mr. W. Burford – a Large-Hearted Citizen". The Register. 7 March 1925. p. 13. Retrieved 4 July 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
adbwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Hindmarsh Ward — The Vacant Seat of Alderman". South Australian Register. 15 August 1854 – via Trove.
- ^ "The Parliament". South Australian Register. 6 May 1857. p. 4. Retrieved 7 July 2011 – via Trove.
- ^ "William Henry Burford". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 12 November 2022.