The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Spence, John Brodie

1448770The Dictionary of Australasian Biography — Spence, John BrodiePhilip Mennell

Spence, John Brodie, was born at Melrose, Scotland, in 1824, and arrived in South Australia with his parents in Oct. 1839. His father, David Spence, solicitor, was town clerk of the first corporation of Adelaide, and died in 1846. Mrs. Spence lived till 1888, reaching the great age of ninety-seven. Mr. John Brodie Spence was engaged in country pursuits till 1845, when he removed to Adelaide and was connected with the Bank of South Australia for seven years. He was afterwards for five years Official Assignee and Curator of Intestate Estates, but left that office for the managership of the English and Scottish Bank, which he held till 1878. He was elected a member of the Legislative Council in 1881, second on the poll of the colony as one electorate, and was Chief Secretary in the Downer Government from June to Oct. 1885, Commissioner of Public Works from the latter date till June 1886, when he again took office as Chief Secretary, but finally retired in July.