William Younghusband

William Younghusband
William Younghusband
Born	c. 1814; Whitehaven, Cumberland, England
Died	5 May 1863 (aged 49); Rome, Lazio, Italy
Nationality	Australian
Occupations	Businessman; Politician;
Known for	Murray River Steamboat Navigation Company; Bank of Australasia; Seat on the South Australian Legislative Council;
Spouse	Louisa Cecilia Thomas
Children	Sarah Younghusband (1837–1885), Louisa Younghusband (1845–82 ), Younghusband (1852 male twins died 1 and 2 days old), Eliza Younghusband (1840–1877) and Amelia Cavanagh (1855–1929)

William Younghusband (1819 – 5 May 1863), sometimes known as "William Younghusband junior", was a businessman and politician in the colony of South Australia; one of the promoters of the Murray River Steam Navigation Company, which enabled Captain Cadell in 1853 to win the £4000 bonus offered by the Government of South Australia for the initiation of steam communication on the Murray.

Business

In 1845, he and George Young founded a woolbroking and shipping business "William Younghusband, jun. & Co.",^[3] with offices in Gilbert Street, Adelaide. The company was wound up in 1867.

Political career

Having represented Stanley in the mixed South Australian Legislative Council for five years prior to the inauguration of responsible government in 1856, he was elected to the new Legislative Council, and was Chief Secretary in the Hanson Government from September 1857 to May 1860.^[4] This being the first stable administration formed subsequent to the disappearance of the old officials from public life, it fell to Mr. Younghusband to organise the various Government departments inaugurated under the new régime. This he did with consummate ability, and for many years the public business of the colony was transacted on the lines he laid down. Mr. Younghusband was a director of the Bank of Australasia, and retired from the Legislative Council by rotation in Feb. 1861.^[5] He died at Rome on 5 May 1863.^[1]

Legacy

Younghusband Peninsula and the small town Younghusband on the River Murray are named after him.

References

^ ^a ^b "Family Notices". South Australian Register. 13 July 1863. p. 2. Retrieved 1 June 2012 – via Trove.
^ "India Marriages, 1792–1948 ," database, FamilySearch, William Younghusband and Louisa Cecilia Thomas, 01 Sep 1836; citing Howra, Bengal, India; index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 498,973. Accessed 10 February 2018
^ "Advertising". Adelaide Observer. 3 May 1845. p. 1. Retrieved 21 April 2015 – via Trove.
^ "William Younghusband". Former members of the Parliament of South Australia. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
^ Mennell, Philip (1892). "Younghusband, William" . The Dictionary of Australasian Biography. London: Hutchinson & Co – via Wikisource.

Parliament of South Australia
Preceded by Thomas O'Halloran Charles Sturt Henry Young	Member of the South Australian Legislative Council 1851 – 1861 Served alongside: Multiple Members	Succeeded by John Barrow William Peacock Judah Solomon
Political offices
Preceded by Robert Torrens	Chief Secretary of South Australia 1857 – 1860	Succeeded by George Waterhouse