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320:. Other articles attacked the civil service generally. At the first trial of the railway libel case begun on 1 June 1893 the jury disagreed, and the second trial which began on 17 April 1894 and lasted for 105 days resulted in a verdict for the defendant on nine out of the ten counts, and on the tenth count the damages were assessed at one farthing. Speight, however, was ruined and Syme had to pay his own costs which amounted to about £50,000. As an example of the power some felt was exercised by Syme at this time, the leading counsel for the plaintiff, when addressing the jury, stated that "no government could stand against
297:, was placed in a difficult position, and took the unprecedented step of asking Syme's advice. Syme's reply was that the governor should act in conformity with the opinions of the law officers of the crown. This Bowen did but Syme thought the advice was bad and told the premier so. Berry then asked Syme for his advice and took it. It is evident that Syme at this time had very great influence within the colony. Constitutional difficulties continued for some time, but at last the Legislative Council was reformed, by increasing the number of eligible voters and by other changes in its constitution to make it more democratic.
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Syme's childhood was one of study with little companionship with other boys of his own age. George Syme was not physically unkind to his sons, but Syme would write later: "It was difficult to understand my father's attitude to we boys. He had naturally a kind disposition; he was a devoted husband, and no-one ever asked him for help that he did not freely give … but his affection for us never found expression in words".
304:, Syme recognised that Service had the very qualities Berry lacked. Syme therefore supported the coalition ministry formed in 1883 which did good work for three years. There was a general feeling of confidence, a tendency to over-borrow money and to spend huge sums on railways and other public works. This led to the mining and land booms which really burst in 1889, although the full effects were not realised until the
353:'ticket'. During the first federal parliament Syme fought for comparatively high protective duties, but his influence did not extend to any great extent beyond Victoria and he was for the time unsuccessful. In later years, however, considerable increases in duties were made. In the last years of his life Syme wrote about the faults of party government. Some of these he had drawn attention to in chapter VII of his
388:. Syme was an advocate of what he termed "cellular intelligence". He believed that the cell is a biological unit and a "vital entity" which could drive organic modifications. He held the view that modifications result from the action of the organism itself and not from the direct influence of the environment. Syme also criticized
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journal, stating that Syme had misrepresented Darwin's theory. Wallace concluded that "Mr. Syme has a considerable reputation in other departments of literature as a powerful writer and acute critic; but he has entirely mistaken his vocation in this feeble and almost puerile attempt to overthrow the
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included manhood suffrage, the opening of the lands for selection by the people, no compensation for the squatters, and compulsory, free and secular education. When protection was added to the program great opposition was raised. Opponents felt that these policies would greatly harm the colony. The
206:
on 27 September 1856. The paper struggled on for 18 months, when finding it could not support the two proprietors David obtained other employment. Ebenezer retired in 1859 and David, with some reluctance, returned to the business. On 13 March 1860 Ebenezer died, and finding it was difficult to sell
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Mitchell. George Syme was a radical in church and state, his income was comfortable yet moderate, but it was stretched to provide for his large family and send three of his sons to universities (which he successfully did, while providing David with a relentlessly demanding education himself.) David
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Victoria's first protectionist tariff had been a very moderate one and McCulloch was not willing to increase it. Though Syme thought highly of McCulloch's ability, he opposed him and transferred his support to Graham Berry. Parliament was not stable and more than once ministries were formed
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was carried even to the extent of boycotting its advertising. Various abortive amending land acts became law between 1860 and 1869, but in the latter year an act was passed which embodied most of the principles for which Syme had fought. A tremendous flow of population came into
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became the predominant factor in
Victorian politics. In its early days there was difficulty in getting competent journalists, the best of them was G. Paton Smith who was editor for some years. After Smith left, Syme took the editorial chair until
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retained a policy which was practically free trade for most of the period before federation and appears to have been as steadily prosperous as
Victoria. Protectionism in Victoria was bitterly opposed, and dispute led to great contests between the
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became important towards the end of the century it was Deakin, a journalistic protégé of Syme's, who became the leader of the movement in
Victoria. The ten Victorian delegates elected to the 1897 Federal Convention were the ten on the
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to India to report on irrigation there. As a result, the development of irrigation began which after some early failures was to be successfully extended in later years. Syme also supported early closing,
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520:
David Syme received no honours, having declined a knighthood in 1900. A knighthood for services to journalism and the
Commonwealth was later presented to David Syme's son, Geoffrey in 1941.
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David Syme was 17 years old when his father died, and he continued his classical studies with some doubt to his future. He had thoughts of qualifying for the ministry but revolted from the
492:
threw many of Syme's compositers out of work; he ensured that they were provided for. The older men were pensioned off and others were set up in business or placed on the land.
202:
newspaper and when it was threatened with failure bought it for £2000 in June 1856. David Syme, who had saved some money while on the diggings, joined his brother as partner in
264:. The struggle went on for years, but Syme's belief that the people as a whole should rule, rather than any one section of them, was finally established, and for a long period
214:
The task of running the newspaper was a difficult one, and only the fact that the proprietor was willing to work 15 hours a day made success possible. The original policies of
937:
335:
Syme had early realised that agriculture would need development in
Victoria and twice sent J. L. Dew to America to study irrigation and agricultural methods. Syme also sent
240:
Syme felt that manufacturing industries should be established in
Victoria and that this could only be done by bringing in trade protection. Syme persuaded able men like Sir
188:, Syme and his partner almost obtained a fortune, but their claim, which afterwards became very valuable, was jumped by other men and they were unable to obtain recompense.
312:
began a series of articles alleging bad management and incompetence on the part of the railway commissioners. This led at last to an action for libel being brought against
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consisting partly of free traders and partly of protectionists. This did not satisfy Syme and in 1877 his advocacy brought in Berry with a large majority and popularity to
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Syme was a driving force for the introduction of such policies, which accompanied a great increase in economic activity. As a comparison, the neighbouring colony of
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Syme had supported Berry in the fight for protection and during the constitutional struggle but was not satisfied with him as an administrator. Although opposed to
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in
Scotland, the youngest of the seven children and fourth son of George Alexander Syme (18?–1845), a parish schoolmaster. Syme's wife, David's mother, was Jean
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near
Melbourne on 14 February 1908. In 1859 he had married Annabella Johnson, who survived him with five sons and two daughters. Syme is buried at
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445:, (London, 1876) is largely a vindication of protection and is also a plea for the extension of the activities of the state. Next appeared
429:(1903) "attacked both materialism and the current argument for design and described Syme's own belief as a kind of pantheistic teleology."
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Syme was hailed on his death as "one of the greatest men in colonial history" by his friend, then Prime
Minister Alfred Deakin.
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293:. The Legislative Council, however, rejected Berry's tariff and fresh constitutional difficulties arose. The governor, Sir
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vast edifice of fact and theory raised by the genius and the life-long labours of Darwin." Responding to
Wallace in the
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Towards the end of 1855 Syme returned to Melbourne and became a road contractor. Syme's brother, Ebenezer, was editing
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and protectionism became the settled economic policy of the colony; consequently many factories were established.
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to Fairfax in 1983. The Syme family controlled the newspaper outright for 127 years, from 1856 to 1983.
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Syme also involved himself in philanthropic activities; he paid the expenses of a rifle team to
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became editor in 1872 and held the position until 1900. Possibly Syme's most able assistant was
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Their Fiery Cross of Union. A Retelling of the Creation of the Australian Federation, 1889-1914
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in 1851 and arrived after a voyage of five months to search for gold but had little success.
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and returned to Scotland obtaining a position about 1850 as a proofreader's assistant on a
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for research in biology, chemistry, geology and natural philosophy. The introduction of
465:(1903), discusses the nature of life, instinct, memory, mind, and survival after death.
398:(1892) noted that Syme's book "provoked warm opposition and attracted great attention."
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Syme studied under James Morison at Kilmarnock for two years, attended some classes at
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357:(London, 1881). His suggested remedies have failed, however, to obtain much support.
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75:, declared Syme "could hate as few men can loved power as few men ever loved it".
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103:, Clitheroe, England. Annabella was connected through her Garnett relations to
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384:. Syme was not a creationist, he accepted the fact of evolution, but rejected
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newspaper. With low pay and little prospect of advancement, he sailed for
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The Journal of the Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
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513:, David Syme's great-grandson, (Oswald Syme's grandson) who sold the
480:. In 1904 he gave £3000 (equivalent to $ 260,000 in 2022) to the
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A Colonial Liberalism: The Lost World of Three Victorian Visionaries
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remained in family hands after Syme's death. It was headed by Sir
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journal, Syme denied misrepresenting Darwin on natural selection.
211:, Syme decided to abandon his contracting and carry on the paper.
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449:, a study of the history of parliament in England. His next book
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and towards the end of the decade there was some unemployment.
154:
768:
Reviewed Work: On the Modification of Organisms by David Syme
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Reviewed Work: On the Modification of Organisms by David Syme
799:. London: Hutchinson & Co. pp. 452–453 – via
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95:
Syme married Annabella Garnett-Johnson, of the Lancashire
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1908–42. Also has a detailed page on David Syme's life.
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19th-century Australian newspaper publishers (people)
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legislation, and old-age pensions. When the issue of
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from 1942 to 1964 before eventually being passed to
461:from an evolutionist position. Syme's last volume,
886:David Syme: The father of Protection in Australia
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392:and the Darwinian explanation for mimicry. The
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380:(1890) which aimed to disprove the theory of
153:in a badly provisioned vessel and arrived at
114:teaching of the day; his brothers George and
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711:, 1976, pp 236–237. Retrieved 11 April 2010
331:Syme's tomb at Boroondara General Cemetery
45:(2 October 1827 – 14 February 1908) was a
168:. Syme had some success there and at the
973:Scottish emigrants to colonial Australia
797:The Dictionary of Australasian Biography
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447:Representative Government in England ...
437:Syme wrote several books while owner of
355:Representative Government in England ...
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279:
78:
33:
25:
16:Scottish-Australian newspaper proprietor
908:, David Syme's son, Managing Editor of
893:A lesser known story of the Syme family
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734:, 1976, p. 423. Retrieved 11 April 2010
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691:
619:, Connor Court, Queensland, 2021, p.336
405:negatively reviewed Syme's book in the
277:who began writing leaders around 1875.
19:For other people named David Syme, see
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453:(Melbourne, 1890), is a criticism of
324:without being shaken to its centre".
880:. Oxford University Press Australia.
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395:Dictionary of Australasian Biography
360:Syme died at his home Blythswood in
67:" who had immense influence in the
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727:Australian Dictionary of Biography
704:Australian Dictionary of Biography
670:Dictionary of Australian Biography
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600:Australian Dictionary of Biography
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722:Windsor, Arthur Lloyd (1833–1913)
545:The Soul: A Study and an Argument
530:Outlines of an Industrial Science
463:The Soul: A Study and an Argument
443:Outlines of an Industrial Science
427:The Soul: A Study and an Argument
228:between 1850 and 1860 due to the
863:. Oxford University Press, 1920.
860:Dictionary of National Biography
816:Wallace, Alfred Russel. (1891).
537:On the Modification of Organisms
451:On the Modification of Organisms
422:Dictionary of National Biography
378:On the Modification of Organisms
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160:Syme took the first steamer for
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59:and regarded as "the father of
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258:Victorian Legislative Assembly
149:Early in 1852 Syme sailed for
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978:Businesspeople from Melbourne
840:Topical Selection and Mimicry
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262:Victorian Legislative Council
157:in a half-starved condition.
943:Australian newspaper editors
472:and financed expeditions to
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366:Boroondara General Cemetery
316:by the chief commissioner,
21:David Syme (disambiguation)
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948:The Age (Melbourne) people
876:Stuart Macintyre. (1991).
699:Syme, Ebenezer (1826–1860)
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968:People from North Berwick
895:by Jessye Wdowin-McGregor
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819:Another Darwinian Critic
776:. Vol. 22 (1893), p. 148
71:. His first biographer,
53:newspaper proprietor of
958:Non-Darwinian evolution
883:Ambrose Pratt. (1908).
596:Syme, David (1827–1908)
482:University of Melbourne
425:noted that Syme's book
376:Syme authored the book
505:from 1908 to 1942 and
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184:diggings. In 1855, at
69:Government of Victoria
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889:. Ward Lock & Co.
837:Syme, David. (1891).
675:Angus & Robertson
524:Selected publications
403:Alfred Russel Wallace
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275:Charles Henry Pearson
79:Early life and family
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606:, 1976, pp 232–236.
792:"Syme, David"
230:Victorian gold rush
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120:Church of Scotland
118:had renounced the
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32:
906:Sir Geoffrey Syme
748:F. W. T. (1892).
490:linotype machines
478:Central Australia
459:natural selection
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308:of 1893. In 1891
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83:Syme was born at
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38:Syme in 1856
30:Syme in 1907
933:1908 deaths
928:1827 births
507:Oswald Syme
306:bank crisis
166:Castlemaine
112:Calvinistic
101:Waddow Hall
963:Pantheists
922:Categories
849:45: 30–31.
801:Wikisource
730:, Vol. 6,
707:, Vol. 6,
673:. Sydney:
553:References
486:Syme Prize
474:New Guinea
346:Federation
182:Beechworth
174:Wangaratta
137:by way of
127:Heidelberg
61:protection
51:Australian
43:David Syme
401:In 1891,
386:Darwinism
372:Evolution
162:Melbourne
151:Australia
145:Australia
139:Cape Horn
65:Australia
789:(1892).
680:11 April
663:(1949).
260:and the
244:and Sir
226:Victoria
178:Ballarat
116:Ebenezer
47:Scottish
910:The Age
756:Science
499:The Age
439:The Age
322:The Age
314:The Age
310:The Age
291:The Age
266:The Age
221:The Age
216:The Age
209:The Age
204:The Age
200:The Age
193:The Age
170:Bendigo
131:Glasgow
56:The Age
846:Nature
825:Nature
548:(1903)
540:(1890)
532:(1876)
455:Darwin
433:Legacy
414:Nature
408:Nature
155:Sydney
682:2010
476:and
419:The
180:and
732:MUP
724:',
709:MUP
701:',
604:MUP
598:',
515:Age
362:Kew
351:Age
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Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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