Henry Parkes Family Tree

Sir Henry Parkes, GCMG was a colonial Australian politician and longest non-consecutive Premier of the Colony of New South Wales, the present-day state of New South Wales in the Commonwealth of Australia.

Henry Parkes has been referred to as the “Father of Federation” due to his early promotion for the federation of the six colonies of Australia, as an early critic of British convict transportation and as a proponent for the expansion of the Australian continental rail network.

Henry Parkes delivered his famous Tenterfield Oration in 1889 which led to his instigation of a conference in 1890 and a Constitutional Convention in 1891, the first of a series of meetings that led to the federation of Australia.

Henry Parkes died in 1896, five years before this process was completed and he was described during his lifetime by The Times as “the most commanding figure in Australian politics”.

Alfred Deakin described Sir Henry Parkes as having flaws but nonetheless being “a large-brained self-educated Titan whose natural field was found in Parliament.”

Henry Parkes was born on 27 May 1815 in Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdommap.

Henry Parkes Family Tree

1. Son of Thomas Parkes and Martha Faulconbridge
2. Brother of James Parkes
3. Husband of Clarinda (Varney) Parkes — married 11 Jul 1836 in Edgbaston, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdommap
4. Husband of Eleanor (Dixon) Parkes — married 6 Feb 1889 in St Paul’s Church of England, Redfernmap
5. Husband of Julia (Lynch) Parkes — married 24 Oct 1895 [location unknown]
6. Father of Robert Sydney Parkes, Annie Thomasine Parkes, Gertrude Amelia (Parkes) Hiscox, Varney Parkes, Lily Faulconbridge Parkes and Cobden Parkes