Hobart, October, 1840, and purchased from his father the estate of Spring Vale, was some time resident magistrate for the district of Port Sorell, which office he vacated in 1848, and during the succeeding ten years rented his father's estates and resided in the district of Glamorgan; subsequently, in 1858, removing to his own estates at Pressor's Plains. He was returned a member of the then nominee-elective Council, and took his seat, 17th July, 1855, and 2nd December, 1856, took his seat as the first member for Glamorgan, in the first representative Parliament of Tasmania; shortly afterwards was called upon to accept office as colonial treasurer in the cabinet formed by Mr. Gregson; was next returned for the City of Hobart; again took office as colonial treasurer, which he held until November, 1866; in the new Parliament represented Kingborough until 1871, in which year he was returned for West Devon, for which constituency he sat until his final retirement from Parliament in 1879. In 1872—3 he held office as minister of lands and works; in the Eeibey ministry of 1876—7 again occupied his former position as colonial treasurer, and immediately after his resignation was appointed police magistrate of Launceston, whither, in June, 1879, he removed from Malunnah, Orford. He m., at Old Edgbaston Church, near Birmingham, 18th April, 1839, his cousin, Louisa Anne, daughter of Thomas Twamley, Esq. of Hampstead, near Birmingham. She was b. in Birmingham, 20th July, 1812, and is the authoress of Notes and Sketches of New South Wales, My Home in Tasmania, Over the Straits, &c., &c., nearly all of which works were illustrated by herself. She has been awarded prize medals in London, Sydney, Melbourne, and Calcutta, for paintings illustrating Australian natural history, and is the only woman holding one of the fifty "Special" silver medals of the Melbourne Exhibition of 1866—7 for "art and literature combined." This lady was elected honorary member of the Tasmanian Royal Society, " in recognition of services rendered to art and science in Tasmania," and on like grounds enjoys a pension from the Tasmanian Government. Mr. Meredith d. at Launceston, Tasmania, 2nd March, 1880, having had issue,
1. George Campbell, b. 1st July, 1840. 2. Charles, b. 5th April, 1844, d. 15th September, 1888. 3. Owen, mining engineer, b. 6th April, 1847; m. 1st November, 1871, Eliza Jane Winasor, and has issue, 1, David Owen ; 1, Louisa Anne, b. 10th September, 1873; 2, Winifred Eliza; 3,Sabina Ida ; 4, Violet ; 5, Corinna Ruby.
I. Sarah, m., at Hobart, James B. Poynter, Esq., banker and merchant, and had issue, three sons and one daughter, who reside in the colonies. II. Louisa, m., at Hobart, Captain John Bell, merchant and shipowner, and has issue, one son, George Meredith, living in Southland, New Zealand, and three daughters, residing in England. III. Sabina, m., at Hobart, John Boyes, Esq., merchant, and had issue, five sons (one in the army, one a captain R.N., and another, now deceased, who received the Victoria Cross for gallant conduct at Nagasaki) and four daughters.
Mr. George Meredith m., secondly, 30th October, 1820, Mary Evans, and by her (who d. 21st November, 1842) had issue,
III. Henry, d. unm. IV. John, m. Maria Hammond, and has five sons and five daughters. T. Edwin, of whom we treat. IT. Maria, m., 6th November, 1845, Captain Joseph Henry Eaye, E.N., F.R.S., who entered the Navy, 18th December, 1827; obtained his commission, 6th April, 1839; from the 15th of the following May until his return to England in 1843 was engaged in an exploring expedition to the Antarctic regions in the "Terror," and subsequently became director of H.M. Magnetic Observatory at Hobart Town; and by him (who d. at South Yarra, Victoria) has issue, a daughter, Rosina Maria, who m., 26th February, 1884, her cousin, Clarence Kaye Meredith-Kaye, Esq., before mentioned, third son of Edwin Meredith, Esq. of Llandaff, Masterton, New Zealand, and has issue.
V. Clara, m. Sir Richard Dry, who was a member of the old Legislative Council of Tasmania, afterwards represented Launceston in the House of Assembly, chosen first speaker, and was colonial secretary and premier of Tasmania, from 24th November, 1866, to 1st August, 1869; but by him (who d. October, 1869) has no issue.
VI. Fanny, m. Captain F. S. Gaynor, of the 99th Regiment, and has one son and one daughter.
VII. Rosina, m. Captain F. Despard, of the 99th Regiment, and has one daughter.
He d. in 1856.
Arms used—Arg., a lion, ramp., sa., gorged with a collar, and chain affixed thereto reflexed over the back or; with seren quarterings. Crest—A demilion,ramp., sa., collared and chained as in the arms. Motto—Spes est in Deo.
Residence—Llandaff, Masterton, New Zealand
