{{Short description|Australian politician}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''William Smillie''' (c. 1810 – 11 Dec 1852) was an appointed member of the first Legislative Council of South Australia, serving from March 1840 to February 1851.
==History== Smillie was a son of Matthew Smillie (c. 1781 – 12 March 1847), a solicitor of Leith, Scotland and his wife Elizabeth Corse Smillie, née Nairne (c. 1791 – 17 October 1861).<ref name=late>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158093725 |title=The Late Hon. William Smillie |newspaper=Adelaide Observer |date=7 May 1853 |access-date=13 November 2016 |page=6 |via=Trove}}</ref> Smillie was a partner in his father's legal practice. He became fascinated with the newly founded colony of South Australia, and published a series of articles in the ''Stirling Advertiser'', reprinted as a book ''The Great South Land'' in 1838.
He and his parents subsequently emigrated on the ''Indus'', arriving in South Australia in January 1839. His father, through a special survey,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article31750367 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Gazette and Colonial Register |location=South Australia |date=26 January 1839 |accessdate=7 September 2025 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> purchased three sections in the vicinity of Mount Barker, which he subdivided, establishing the township of Nairne<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article48545598 |title=Family Notices |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=17 March 1847 |access-date=13 November 2016 |page=2 |via=Trove}}</ref> which he named in honour of his wife.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/pn/n/n1.htm#nairne|title=Manning's Placenames of South Australia|publisher=State Library of South Australia|access-date=13 November 2016}}</ref> They established a home, "The Vallies" or "The Valleys" in the area. In 1840 Smillie was appointed advocate-general, which position until 1857 was linked to a seat on the Legislative Council, succeeding Robert Bernard.<ref name="SA parl">{{Cite SA-parl |pid=4139 |name=William Smillie |former=yes |access-date=13 December 2022}}</ref>
Smillie was plagued with poor health. In 1849 he took three months' leave of absence in Tasmania, in the hope of some improvement. William Bartley acted in his absence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article195936885 |title=Local News of the Week |newspaper=South Australian Gazette and Mining Journal |date=6 January 1849 |access-date=13 November 2016 |page=4 |via=Trove}}</ref> His health further failing, in June 1851 Smillie took eighteen months' leave of absence, holidaying in St. Thomas in the West Indies, where he experienced some improvement.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article38466042 |title=The Hon. W. Smillie, Esq. |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=6 July 1852 |access-date=13 November 2016 |page=3 |via=Trove}}</ref> Charles Mann (the first incumbent) acted in his absence for a month or two, followed by Richard Davies Hanson. He died in Paris, ''en route'' to Italy, and was buried in Scotland.
<blockquote>He was distinguished by his general amiableness and cultivated mind, and by the interest he took, not only in his professional duties, but in all that related to the well-being of the colony<ref name=late/></blockquote>
==Family== William Smillie married Eliza Jane Farquharson ( – ) daughter of Robert Farquarson of Allargue, in 1844. their family included: *Jean Nairne Smillie (16 April 1846 – 29 February 1880) *Elizabeth Smillie (c. 1848 – 4 September 1869) *Matthew William Smillie (23 February 1850 – 23 October 1867) died in Aberdeen
==Bibliography== *Smillie, William ''The Great South Land'' 1838.<ref>This booklet has been made available in digital form by the National Library of Australia and may be downloaded [https://nla.gov.au/nla.obj-29326248/view?partId=nla.obj-29327704#page/n10/mode/1up here].</ref> *Hon. Wm. Smillie ''Mental Culture: An Introductory Discourse to the Adelaide Literary and Scientific Association and Mechanics' Institute.'' South Australian Magazine. Vol I, issue ?? 1842<ref>{{cite news |url=https://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73843924 |title=Advertising |newspaper=South Australian Register |date=31 May 1843 |access-date=13 November 2016 |page=1 |via=Trove}} The text of a lecture given by Smillie to the South Australian Literary and Scientific Association and Mechanics' Institute, 26 July 1842 at the Queen's Theatre.</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Smillie, William}} Category:19th-century births Category:1852 deaths Category:19th-century Australian lawyers Category:Members of the South Australian Legislative Council Category:Politicians from the Colony of South Australia