The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Ramsay, Hon. Robert
Ramsay, Hon. Robert, was born in 1842 at Hawick, Roxburghshire, and went with his parents to Victoria at the age of four years. He was the eldest son of the Rev. A. M. Ramsay, of St. Enoch's Church, Collins Street, now the Assembly Hall, was educated at the Scotch College, and was afterwards a law student at the Melbourne University, subsequently becoming a partner in the well-known firm of Macgregor, Ramsay & Brahe, solicitors, Melbourne. In 1870 he was elected to the Assembly for East Bourke, and held a seat in the Francis Ministry without portfolio from June 1872 to July 1874. From the latter date till August 1875 he was Postmaster-General under the late Mr. Kerferd, holding the same post in conjunction with that of Minister of Education in the last MᶜCulloch Government from Oct. 1875 to May 1877. After three years in opposition Mr. Ramsay, in March 1880, joined Mr. Service as Chief Secretary and Minister of Education, and held the combined office till the Ministry retired in August of the same year. Mr. Ramsay, who was a Conservative and free-trader, introduced and carried a bill abolishing pensions to future civil servants. Mr. Ramsay, who married in 1868 Isabella Catherine, second daughter of Roderick Urquhart, of Yangery Park, died on May 23rd, 1882.