Charles Cowper
Sir Charles Cowper (/ˈkaʊpər/), KCMG (26 April 1807 – 19 October 1875) was an Australian politician and the Premier of New South Wales on five occasions from 1856 to 1870.
Sir Charles Cowper KCMG | |
|---|---|
| 2nd Premier of New South Wales | |
| In office 26 August 1856 – 2 October 1856 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir William Denison |
| Preceded by | Stuart Donaldson |
| Succeeded by | Henry Parker |
| In office 7 September 1857 – 26 October 1859 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir William Denison |
| Preceded by | Henry Parker |
| Succeeded by | William Forster |
| In office 10 January 1861 – 15 October 1863 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir William Denison Sir John Young |
| Preceded by | John Robertson |
| Succeeded by | James Martin |
| In office 3 February 1865 – 21 January 1866 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | Sir John Young |
| Preceded by | James Martin |
| Succeeded by | James Martin |
| In office 13 January 1870 – 15 December 1870 | |
| Monarch | Victoria |
| Governor | The Earl Belmore |
| Preceded by | John Robertson |
| Succeeded by | Sir James Martin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 April 1807 Kingston upon Hull, Yorkshire, England, UK |
| Died | 19 October 1875 (aged 68) Kensington, London, England, UK |
| Spouse | Eliza Sutton |
Cowper did useful work but does not rank among the more distinguished Australian politicians. Cowper's governments had a fairly coherent liberal tendency, a trend which continued with the governments of Henry Parkes and later developed into the Free Trade Party. In 1852, Parkes referred in public to his "mild, affable and benignant character". In later years he spoke of his "quick insight in dealing with surrounding circumstances, and much good humour and tact in dealing with individuals". His political adroitness was such that it secured for him the popular sobriquet of "Slippery Charley". Probably Cowper deserved this title no more than Bishop Wilberforce deserved his of "Soapy Sam", but Rusden speaks of Cowper as "ever anxious to link himself with a majority" and frequently shows animus when speaking of him. He was personally popular, and towards the end of his life the estate of Wivenhoe was purchased by public subscription and settled on his wife.