Australian Historical Medals

Lot 457    SESSION 3 (2.30PM TUESDAY 23RD NOV)    Australian Historical Medals

Estimate $1,250
Bid at live.noble.com.au
SOLD $1,300

SYDNEY?INTERNATIONAL?EXHIBITION,?M.D.CCC LXXIX (1879), in silver (76mm), by J.S. & A.B.Wyon, no stop after CCC variety, reverse inscribed, 'The Honorable/John Lackey/Secretary for/Public Works'. Edge nicks and scratches, otherwise nearly extremely fine and rare this size.

The following courtesy of Wikipedia.

'Sir John Lackey?KCMG?(6 October 1830 - 11 November 1903) was a magistrate and politician in colonial?New South Wales,?President of the New South Wales Legislative Council?1892 to 1903.

Lackey was born in?Sydney, New South Wales, son of William Lackey and his second wife Mary,?n?e?O'Dowd. His grandfather was a wealthy publican and paid for his education. Lackey was educated at the?Sydney College, subsequently adopting pastoral pursuits in the Parramatta district. In 1852 he became a magistrate.

He unsuccessfully contested?Central Cumberland?at the?1859 election.?He was the first of two members elected for Parramatta?at the?election on 8 December 1860.?James Byrnes?took offence at being placed second behind a newcomer, stating that the majority of voters had decided that he was not fit to serve them and resigned in March 1861 without taking his seat.?Lackey strongly supported the passing of the?Robertson Land Acts?in 1861.?He was defeated at Parramatta at the?election on 24 November 1864,?but on 27 June 1867 he won the Central Cumberland by-election?to re-enter the Assembly.

He was Chairman of Committees from February 1870 August 1872.?From February 1875 to March 1877, he was?Secretary for Public Works?in the?third Robertson ministry. In 1877 he was?Minister of Justice and Public Instruction?in the short-lived?fourth Robertson ministry?and was again Secretary for Public Works in the?Parkes-Robertson Administration?from December 1878 to January 1883. In August 1885 he resigned from the Legislative Assembly and was appointed to the Legislative Council?in December 1885. In 1889 he was the Vice-President of the Executive Council?in the?second Dibbs ministry. In August 1892 he was appointed?President of the Legislative Council, serving until his resignation as president on 23 May 1903.

Lackey died on 11 November 1903?(aged?73) in?Bong Bong, New South Wales, survived by two sons. He was made a?Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George?(KCMG) in 1894.'

In Summer Hill, Sydney, NSW, the main street leading to the railway station is named Lackey Street in honour of John Lackey.