Page:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography.djvu/58

 He resigned with his colleagues in August 1890.

Black, Hon. Neil, M.L.C., J.P., was the son of Alexander Black, and was born at Cowal, Argyleshire, in 1804. He emigrated to Australia in 1839, and went to the Camperdown district, where, as the representative partner of Mr. Finlay, of Castle Toward, Argyleshire, Mr. Stuart Gladstone, of Capenock, and Mr. Stewart, of Glenormiston, Perthshire, Scotland, he purchased the Glenormiston property. The partnership, which was highly remunerative after 1846, continued until 1868, when the property was divided. Mr. Black bought Mr. Gladstone's portion, now known as Mount Noorat, and resided on it until his death May 15th, 1880. Mr. Black, who married Miss Grace Greenshiels Leadbetter, for many years represented the Western Province in the Legislative Council, and was also a magistrate for the southern bailiwick. As a politician he was a staunch Conservative, and opposed the introduction of free education.

Blackall, Col. Samuel Wensley, sometime Governor of Queensland, was the eldest son of Major Robert Blackall, H.E.I.C.S., of Colamber Manor, co. Longford. He was born on May 1st, 1809, in Ireland, and took his degree at Trinity College, Dublin. He served in the 85th Light Infantry, was then major in the Longford Militia, and afterwards honorary colonel in the Leitrim Militia. Col. Blackall was M.P. for Longford in the House of Commons, from 1847 to 1851, a D.L. for counties Longford and Leitrim, High Sheriff of Longford in 1833, and for Tyrone in 1861. He was Lieutenant-Governor of Dominica from 1851 to 1857; Governor of Sierra Leone from 1862 to 1865; Governor-in-chief of the West African Settlements from 1865 to 1867; and Governor of Queensland, in succession to Sir George Bowen, from August 1868 to Jan. 2nd, 1871, when he died at Brisbane and was buried in the new cemetery there on the following day. Colonel Blackall married first, in 1833, Georgina, daughter of Henry Rowles, of London; and secondly, in 1848, Kate, daughter of the late James Bond, who died in 1864.

Blackett, Cuthbert Robert, F.C.S., J.P., Government Analytical Chemist, is son of the late Rev. C. R. Blackett, Independent minister at Southminster, England, where he was born Oct. 9th, 1831. Having served his time as a pharmaceutical chemist, he arrived in Melbourne in Jan. 1853, and became a member of the first council of the Pharmaceutical Society, and ultimately its Secretary and President. He was also for five years editor of the journal published by that society. On the passing of the Pharmacy Act in 1877, the Government appointed him one of the members of the Pharmacy Board, and on the retirement of Mr. Bosisto he was elected President. He was examiner in chemistry to the College of Pharmacy, and for some time acted as lecturer on chemistry, materia medica, and botany, pending the arrival of Professor A. H. Jackson, B.Sc. In 1879 he was elected to the Assembly for Fitzroy in the Conservative interest. Mr. Blackett was President of the Royal Technological Commission; and when the Central Board of Health was formed he was offered the position of president, but declined it. In 1882 he was again returned for Fitzroy, but was defeated at the next general election, owing to his pronounced free-trade views. Mr. Blackett was appointed Government Analytical Chemist on the death of Mr. Johnson, in 1887, and is also a Fellow of the Chemical Society of London, and was co-examiner in chemistry to the Melbourne University, until he resigned the office. Mr. Blackett married in May 1870 at Stokesley, England, Miss Margaretta Palmer.

Blackett, John, M.Inst.C.E., was educated at Newcastle-on-Tyne, and was a pupil with Messrs. R. & W. Hawthorn, engineers, 1834-41; draughtsman and office engineer to the Great Western Steamship Company, 1841-4; head engineer in iron shipbuilding and railway work with T. R. Guppy, A.I.C.E., 1844-6; engineer to the Governor and Company of Copper Mines in England at Cwm Avon, South Wales, 1846-8. From 1848 to 1851 he practised privately as an engineer in England. In 1859 Mr. Blackett was appointed provincial engineer at Nelson, N.Z., and in 1870 was advanced to the position of Acting Engineer-in-chief for New Zealand, becoming also Marine Engineer in the following year. In 1878 he was made Engineer-in-charge of the North Island, and in 1884 Engineer-in-chief of the 42