The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Parker, Stephen Henry
Parker, Stephen Henry, M.L.A., Q.C., son of Stephen Stanley Parker, held a seat from 1878 to 1890 in the old Legislative Council of Western Australia, and regarded as the leader of the elected members in the movement for obtaining responsible government. He came to England in 1890, with Sir Thos. Campbell, to assist the Home Government in carrying the new Constitution Bill through Parliament. He was eminently successful in his efforts, and gave important evidence before the select committee of the House of Commons presided over by Baron Henry de Worms, which resulted in the passing of the Bill freed from all restrictions as to the territorial control to be exercised by the colonial authorities under the new constitution. Mr. Parker, whose grandfather emigrated to Western Australia in 1829, was born at York, W.A., on Nov. 7th, 1846, was called to the Colonial Bar in 1868, was Mayor of Perth in 1880 and 1892, Q.C. in 1890, and M.L.A. for York in the latter year. He married at Perth, on July 27th, 1872, Amy Katherine, daughter of Hon. George Walpole Leake, M.L.C.