Sir John Winthrop Hackett

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Biographical informationBorn in County Dublin, Ireland, in 1848, John Winthrop Hackett was educated at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated B.A. in 1871 and M.A. 1874. Migrating to Australia, he took up journalism before becoming vice-principal and tutor in law, logic and political economy at Trinity College, Melbourne. After an unsuccessful incursion into Victorian politics Hackett moved to Western Australia in 1882. He became joint owner of the West Australian newspaper in 1883, and in 1887 editor. Nominated to the Legislative Council in 1890, he remained an elected representative until his death.

Hackett used his considerable influence as a journalist and as a politician to promote the early establishment of a University in Western Australia and he was appointed Chairman of the Royal Commission set up in 1909 to report its foundation. When the University was opened in 1912 he became its first Chancellor, occupying that position until his death in 1916.

During this period Hackett made his first substantial benefaction to the University by endowing the Chair of Agriculture. Under his will a bequest to the Church of England paid for the building of St. George's College, the first residential college within the University. The residue of his estate, amounting to £425,000, was bequeathed to the University. Of this sum, £200,000 (with accrued interest) was used for the erection of the group of buildings which include Winthrop Hall and Hackett Hall, while the remainder was allocated to providing scholarships, bursaries and other financial held for deserving students.

Hackett was awarded an honorary LLD by Trinity College, Dublin, in 1902. He was knighted in 1911 and created K.C.M.G in 1913.Honorifics (Titles)SirPost-nominalsKCMGHon.LLDDate of death19 February 1916

2054P - Photographic Portrait of Sir Winthrop Hackett

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Source of informationhttps://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/hackett-sir-john-winthrop-6514https://www.uwa.edu.au/giving/beque.....y---john-winthrop-hackett

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Sir John Winthrop Hackett

THE UNIVERSITY OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA