The Dictionary of Australasian Biography/Wisdom, Hon. Sir Robert
Wisdom, Hon. Sir Robert, K.C.M.G., was born in Blackburn, Lancashire, on Jan. 31st, 1830, and arrived in Australia in 1834 with his parents. He was educated at Maitland, N.S.W., and at the Sydney College, and was admitted to the Colonial Bar in 1861. He became the first member for the Western Goldfields in 1859, having resigned the office of Gold Commissioner, which he had previously held, to contest the seat. He represented this constituency in the Assembly in two parliaments, the Lower Hunter in two more, and was also member for the Northern Goldfields. For a short period he was Crown Prosecutor, and afterwards represented Morpeth. He was Chairman of Committees in the Assembly for nearly four years, and was appointed a member of the Council of Education 1878. He was Attorney-General in the Parkes Government from August 1879 to Jan. 1883. In 1887 he came to England with Sir Patrick Jennings as one of the delegates of New South Wales, to the Colonial Conference held in that year, and was created K.C.M.G. during the sittings. Returning to New South Wales, Sir Robert died on March 17th, 1888.