|
Son of George Whyte, was
born near Greenlaw, Scotland, in March 1820. His mother was a cousin of
Thomas Pringle, the poet, secretary to the Anti-Slavery Society. Whyte
came to Tasmania with his parents in 1832, and six years later took some
sheep to Victoria and settled near Portland. He afterwards was partner in
a station at Clunes where the Port Phillip gold mine was discovered, from
which he drew large royalties. He returned to Tasmania in 1853 and was
elected a member of the legislative council for Pembroke in September
1856. He became a minister without office in Gregson's (q.v.) ministry in
February 1857, and for some years was chairman of committees in the
council. On 20 January 1863 he became premier and colonial secretary and
held office until 24 November 1866. Whyte and the colonial treasurer,
Charles Meredith (q.v.) were the first to go on ministerial tours, and as
a result vigorous efforts were made to open up the country by constructing
roads and bridges. The ministry was defeated because its policy included
an income and property tax. In 1869 Whyte succeeded in passing a scab act,
and when he retired from politics in 1876 became its chief inspector. The
act was very unpopular at first, but owners of sheep later realized the
value of it. In 1881 Whyte was able to report that the sheep of Tasmania
were free from scab disease, a most important gain to the pastoral
industry and the whole colony. He died at Hobart on 20 August 1882 and was
survived by his only son. |
