Butler Cole Aspinall

Butler Cole Aspinall (11 November 1830 – 4 April 1875) was a British-born journalist, barrister and QC who migrated with his young wife to Melbourne Australia at first as an Editor and Writer for The Argus, but soon took up his lucrative legal practice as a defence advocate and later as a senior Victorian state politician. Aspinall was one of the chief counsel for the leaders of the 'Ballarat Riots' aka Eureka Stockade, and later defended Henry James O'Farrell for the attempted assassination of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh. Butler Cole Aspinall was appointed as Attorney-General of Victoria for a short term in 1861 until ill-health curtailed his promising political career. He remained popular amongst his peers for his wit and clever repartees gaining many friends amongst Victorian society. Butler Cole Aspinall, QC, passed away suddenly in April 1875 in Liverpool, His distraught widow passed away six days later in Melbourne, Australia, leaving two orphan children, a girl and boy, who were said, by The Argus news columnists at that time, to have been adopted by Aspinall's friend, Prince Alfred, The Duke of Edinburgh, in 1876. (Source: The Argus, May 1875). Their only son Butler Cole Aspinall KC (1861-1935) returned to Britain and later had a successful career as a QC.

Biography and career

The son of the Reverend James Aspinall, he was born in Liverpool, Merseyside, England in 1830, educated for the law, and was called to the Bar in 1853. He engaged in newspaper work, contributing to the Morning Chronicle and other London papers. In 1854 he came to Melbourne as a law reporter for The Argus, also he contributed to the Morning Herald, Age, and Melbourne Punch. He soon began to practise as a barrister and gained a great reputation as an advocate, and as a wit and humorist.

Eureka Stockade trial

In February 1855, he was one of the counsel for the leaders of the Eureka Rebellion.

Politics

In 1856 Aspinall was elected a member of the Victorian Legislative Assembly for Talbot. He also represented Castlemaine (1859–61), Geelong East (1861–64), Portland (1866–67) and St Kilda (1868–1870). At the end of July 1861 he became Attorney-General in the Richard Heales ministry, but the cabinet resigned a few weeks later.

Court practice

Aspinall was a first-rate advocate and a good parliamentary debater, but he broke down when 40 years old, an age when most men are scarcely past the beginning of their career. He had much charm of manner, and stories of his wit and humour were still being told in legal circles 70 years after his death. The Dictionary of Australian Biography quotes one example of his inspired impudence, which arose out of a brush with a Victorian judge.

"Mr Aspinall," said his Honour severely, "are you trying to show your contempt for this Court?" "No, your Honour," said Aspinall with an air of great humility. "I was merely trying to conceal it."

Henry James O'Farrell trial

In 1868 Aspinall defended Henry James O'Farrell at Sydney for the attempted assassination of Prince Alfred, Duke of Edinburgh, and from January to April 1870 he was solicitor-general in the John Alexander MacPherson ministry. Towards the end of this year he resigned his seat in parliament, and in 1871 had a mental breakdown and was confined for some time. On recovering he returned to England and died there on 4 April 1875. He was married and his wife, who had been left in Melbourne, died six days later.

Personal life

A son, Butler Cole Aspinall, K.C. (1861–1935), who was educated in England, became a distinguished London barrister and a great authority on shipping law. He died unmarried in London on 15 November 1935.

References

• Serle, Percival (1949). "Aspinall, Butler Cole". Dictionary of Australian Biography. Sydney: Angus & Robertson.
• J. H. Heaton, Australian Dictionary of Dates;
• J. L. Forde, The Story of the Bar of Victoria;
• The Times, 16 November 1935;
• The Bulletin, 15 January 1936.