George Milner Stephen
George Milner Stephen (18 December 1812 – 16 January 1894) was a South Australian and Victorian politician and faith healer.
Stephen born in Wells, Somerset, England, the sixth son of John Stephen, later judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, and his wife Mary Anne, née Pasmore.[1] G. M. Stephen was the younger brother of Sir Alfred Stephen. Stephen was eductaed at Honiton Grammar School, topping every class. Stephen moved to Sydney with his father, arriving in the Prince Regent in July 1824. [1]
Stephen won the silver medal for classics at Sydney Grammar School within his first year.[1] In 1831 Stephen was appointed clerk of the Supreme Court at Hobart, went to South Australia in 1838, and became advocate-general at Adelaide and a member of the South Australian Legislative Council. When Governor John Hindmarsh left the colony in 1838 Stephen administered the colony under great difficulties from July to October. There were no funds in the treasury, and Stephen had to advance the pay of the police force from his own pocket. He "carried out a heavy duty with honour, zeal, intelligence and integrity" (A. G. Price, Foundation and Settlement of South Australia, p. 130).[2]
On 9 February 1838, Stephen was appointed advocate-general and crown solicitor in South Australia.[1] Stephen was Colonial Secretary of South Australia from October 1838 to July 1839. Stephen became involved in a land transaction which led to his being accused of perjury. Stephen was acquitted, but was unsuccessful in an action for libel brought against the South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register in connection with this matter.[1] Stephen went to England to continue his law studies and was called to the bar early in 1845. He then returned to Adelaide and practised as a barrister, and moved to Melbourne about 1851 where he also practised with success. Stephen was in England from 1853 to 1856 and then returned to Australia. In the 2 July 1856 edition of the Melbourne Argus, an unfavourable article was printed regarding Stephen, part of which states:[3]
| “ | We are unwilling to say more about Mr. George Milner Stephen than will suffice to save the constituency he persists in seeking to represent from the regrets that would assuredly follow his election... | ” |
In August 1859 Stephen was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Collingwood[2] and served until 1861.[1]
A few years later Stephen went to Sydney where for two years he was acting parliamentary draughtsman. He became interested in spiritualism and believed that he could heal people by the "laying on of hands". For many years both in Sydney and Melbourne he practised in this way, and received hundreds of letters testifying to the benefits received by his patients. Stephen died at home in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick following an operation after a long illness. Stephen married Mary, daughter of Sir John Hindmarsh on 7 July 1840 and was survived by three sons.[1] Stephen was a man of unusual ability, a good administrator and a capable lawyer, interested in science, art and music, all of which he had studied. His early unfortunate experience in speculating in land was continually brought up against him in later years, and militated against his public career. Stephen's work as a healer created a great deal of interest at the time.[1][2]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Anon (1967). "Stephen, George Milner (1812 - 1894)". Australian Dictionary of Biography. Canberra: Australian National University. http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A020438b.htm. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
- ^ a b c Serle, Percival (1949). "Stephen, George Milner". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus and Robertson. http://gutenberg.net.au/dictbiog/0-dict-biogSt-Sy.html#stephen2. Retrieved 2010-03-08.
- ^ "The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1856)". http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/7132480. Retrieved 02 February 2012.
