Edward Combes
Who was Edward Combes?
Engineer, pastoralist, politician and painter from New South Wales Australia (1830-1895)
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Edward Combes (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Edward Combes (6 September 1830 – 18 October 1895) was an engineer, pastoralist, politician, and painter who built a wide-ranging career in colonial New South Wales. Born in Fonthill Gifford, England, he later focused his professional life in Australia, joining the New South Wales Government service in 1858. His technical skills led to his appointment as Government Mining Engineer in 1862, putting him at the forefront of the colony's growing resource sector during a time of significant economic expansion.
Combes started his parliamentary career in 1872 as the member for Bathurst in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and later represented Orange from 1875. His political career progressed when he became Secretary for Public Works in the fourth Robertson ministry, a role he held from August to December 1877. In 1878, he took on a significant role as Executive Commissioner for New South Wales at the Paris International Exhibition. However, this appointment led to him losing his parliamentary seat because the position was considered an office of profit under the Crown.
After returning from Paris, Combes was re-elected to parliament in August 1879 as the member for East Macquarie and held this seat until 1885. In recognition of his work at the Paris Exhibition, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, and the French government awarded him the Officer of the Legion of Honour. These honors demonstrated the high regard for his organizational and diplomatic efforts internationally. In 1891, he joined the New South Wales Legislative Council, serving until his death.
Beyond his engineering and political roles, Combes was also a talented artist. He successfully exhibited paintings at leading London galleries and was respected as an artist of real merit. His professional affiliations were noteworthy; he was a member of the Institution of French Civil Engineers and an associate of the Institution of Civil Engineers of London. He married the daughter of the late William C. Hare, linking him to another prominent colonial family. Combes died in Bathurst on 18 October 1895 at the age of 65.
Before Fame
Edward Combes was born on September 6, 1830, in Fonthill Gifford, a village in Wiltshire, England. The mid-1800s in Britain saw rapid industrial growth, and many young men with a talent for technical and scientific subjects were drawn to engineering careers that offered both intellectual challenge and practical application. While we don't have complete records of Combes's early education and training, his later success as a government mining engineer suggests he had a strong background in applied sciences and civil engineering.
Combes decided to move to Australia during the 1850s, a time when many Britons were heading to the colonies, spurred by the discovery of gold in New South Wales and Victoria. By 1858, he had settled enough to join the colonial government service. His quick rise to Government Mining Engineer just four years later shows that he came with significant expertise and swiftly gained the trust of colonial leaders.
Key Achievements
- Appointed Government Mining Engineer of New South Wales in 1862, overseeing the colony's mineral resources during a critical period of expansion
- Served as Secretary for Public Works in the fourth Robertson ministry in 1877
- Appointed Executive Commissioner for New South Wales at the Paris International Exhibition of 1878, earning international recognition
- Awarded Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) and Officer of the Legion of Honour for his Paris Exhibition work
- Elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council in 1891, capping a parliamentary career that spanned both chambers over more than two decades
Did You Know?
- 01.His parliamentary seat was declared vacant in 1878 not through election defeat but because his appointment as Executive Commissioner for the Paris International Exhibition was judged to be an office of profit under the Crown.
- 02.Combes held the rare distinction of being honoured by two countries for the same work: Britain awarded him the CMG and France made him an Officer of the Legion of Honour for his role at the 1878 Paris Exhibition.
- 03.He was a member of the Institution of French Civil Engineers, an unusual affiliation for a British-born Australian colonial official, reflecting the depth of his engagement with French professional circles.
- 04.Despite a demanding career in government and engineering, Combes exhibited paintings at leading London galleries and was considered by contemporaries to be an artist of considerable merit.
- 05.He represented three different New South Wales constituencies over his parliamentary career: Bathurst, Orange, and East Macquarie, spanning more than a decade in the Legislative Assembly before later serving in the Legislative Council.
Awards & Honors
| Award | Year | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George | 1878 | — |
| Officer of the Legion of Honour | — | — |