About John Downer
Sir John William Downer, KCMG, KC (6 July 1843 – 2 August 1915) was an Australian politician who served two terms as Premier of South Australia, from 1885 to 1887 and again from 1892 to 1893. He later entered federal politics and served as a Senator for South Australia from 1901 to 1903. He was the first of four Australian politicians from the Downer family dynasty. == Early life == Downer was born in Adelaide on 6 July 1843. He was one of four sons born to Jane (née Field) and Henry Downer; his father was a tailor. His parents had immigrated from England to South Australia in 1838, among the first waves of British immigrants brought out by the South Australian Company. Downer began his education at a private academy in Adelaide. He went on to attend St Peter's College, Adelaide, on a scholarship. In 1862 he took first prize in the statewide examinations. Downer followed his older brother Henry Edward Downer into the legal profession, serving his articles of clerkship with Henry and with James Boucaut.
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