Peter Faucett

Brief description

PER-22

Full description

Peter Faucett was born in 1813 in Dublin, Ireland. He was the son of Peter Faucett and Catherine nee Cook. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts from Trinity College, Dublin, in 1840 and subsequently studied law. He was called to the Irish Bar in 1845. In 1852 he arrived in New South Wales, and was admitted to the Bar on 19 December 1852. (1)

From 7 April 1856 to 11 April 1859 Peter Faucett was a member of the Legislative Assembly for the seat of King and Georgina. From 20 January 1860 to 10 November 1860 he represented East Sydney. And from 15 August 1861 to 24 October 1865 he was Member for Yass Plains. He was Solicitor-General from 16 October 1863 until 2 February 1865. He was appointed a puisne judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales on 4 October 1865, a post he held until 8 February 1888 when he resigned due to ill health. On 9 April 1888 he was appointed to the Legislative Council for life. (2)

Peter Faucett had an intense interest in education. He was a Member of the Denominational School Board from 6 March 1854 to July 1864. He was a member of the Committee of Management for the Institute for Destitute Children at Parramatta in 1859. He was a Fellow of the Senate of the University of Sydney from 1859 to 1894 and an honorary Examiner in Law from 1869 to at least 1891. He was a member of the Council to establish the Women’s College at the University of Sydney in 1891-1892. On 21 August 1857 Faucett introduced a petition and a bill to the New South Wales Parliament for the establishment of the Roman Catholic College of St John the Evangelist at the University. He was also a Fellow of the College Council from 1858 to 1863. Whilst in Parliament, Faucett advocated state support for religious denominations and their schools, no matter the denomination. He was also involved in the establishment of St Vincent's Hospital. (3)

Peter Faucett died on 22 May 1894 at Five Dock, Sydney, survived by his daughter. His wife, Frances nee Clements, whom he married at Sydney on 21 January 1862, died in childbirth in 1866.(4)

Endnotes
1. WB Perrignon, 'Faucett, Peter (1813-1894)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, Online edition, http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040166b.htm (cited 11 January 2008); Supreme Court; NRS 13664, Roll of Barristers and Solicitors, 1824-1876; Fiche 852, p.5A.
2. Mr Peter Faucett [Former Member], New South Wales Parliament website, http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/V3ListFormerMembers (cited 1 February 2008); Public Service Lists (Blue Books), 1863, p.34; 1865, p.38; 1887, p.83; 1888, pp.78, 205; New South Wales Government Gazette, No.198 16 October 1863, p.2231; No.55 21 March 1865, p.675; No.206, 6 October 1865, p.2211.
3. Blue Books, 1863, p.15; 1864, p.17; 1869, p.69; 1875, p.114; 1880, p.144; 1885, p.209; 1891, p.228; NSW Government Gazette No.40, 7 March 1856, p.822; No.51, 29 March 1859, p.719; Votes and Proceedings of the Legislative Assembly, 1857, Vol.1, p.39; 'Fellows of the Senate - Senate-The University of Sydney', http://www.usyd.edu.au/senate//fellows1850onaplha.shtml (cited 3 March 2008); ADB, op.cit..
4. Australian Dictionary of Biography, op.cit..

Notes

Member of the Denominational School Board, 06/03/1854 - 31/07/1864
Member of the Committee of Management for the Institute for Destitute Children at Parramatta, 1859
Member of the Legislative Assembly, 07/04/1856 - 11/04/1859, 20/01/1860 - 10/11/1860, 15/08/1861 - 24/10/1865.
Solicitor-General, 16/10/1863 - 02/02/1865.
Puisne Judge of the Supreme Court of NSW, 04/10/1865 - 08/02/1888.
Member of the Legislative Council, 09/04/1888 - 22/05/1894.
Fellow, University of Sydney, 1859 - 1894
Honorary Examiner in Law, University of Sydney, 1869 - 1891