The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Reibey, Hon. Thomas
Reibey, Hon. Thomas, M.H.A., M.A., eldest son of Thomas Reibey and Richenda his wife, daughter of Richard Allen, M.D., and sister of the late Sir George Wigram Allen, was born on Sept. 24th, 1821. He matriculated at Trinity College, Oxford, in May 1840, but did not proceed to a degree. Mr. Reibey (whose father changed the spelling of the family name from Raby) married in Oct. 1842 Catherine McDonall, daughter of James Kyle, of Inverness, Scotland. He has represented Westbury in the Tasmanian Assembly since May 1874. Having acted as leader of the Opposition from March 1875 to July 1876, he acceded to office as Premier and Colonial Secretary in the latter month. He only, however, held power till August of the next year. He then acted as leader of the Opposition till Dec. 1878, when he became Colonial Secretary in Dr. Crowther's Ministry, which lasted till Oct. 1879. In July 1887 Mr. Reibey was elected Speaker of the Assembly, which office he held until 1890, when he was succeeded by Mr. N. J. Brown. Mr. Reibey was formerly in holy orders, and was preferred to be archdeacon.