Biography

William Martin (1856 - 1938) Tasmanian-born lawyer and company director with achievements in sport and and the military. With his wife Kate and family, they attended St. John’s Church and gave generously during the building extensions.

The Martin family has been traced back to the Reverend Samuel Martin and Selina, formerly Beresford, of Warsop in Nottingham, England. Their son, Captain Edward, of the Indian Army came to Van Diemen's Land and settled at Westbury at the end of 1845.

William was born on 21^st June 1856 at Westbury, fourth son of Edward and Anne, daughter of Captain John Craig Dundas of New Town. He was educated at the Launceston Church Grammar School and Geelong Grammar, Victoria. He was articled to the firm of Ritchie & Parker, solicitors of Launceston, and then Roberts & Allport of Hobart. He was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court of Tasmania in April 1879 and was for a time with the firm of the Hon. F. W. Grubb.' He then became senior partner of Martin & Hobkirk, who purchased the firm of Mr Grubb.

On 24^th December 1879 he married Kate Weedon, daughter of C. J. Weedon of Launceston. They had three children. William Martin was for many years a director of the Tasmanian Woolgrowers' Agency Co. Ltd., chairman of directors of the National Bank of Tasmania until it was taken over by the Commercial Bank of Australia. He was a director of the Western Silver, the Primrose and the Hercules Mining Companies and was involved in other mining ventures on the West Coast. His military career was long and colourful. Enlisting as a private in 1878, he rose steadily through the ranks to receive the honorary rank of brigadier-general in 1919. Through forty-one years of service he received many decorations and honours.

Other interests more closely connected with him were within the Boy Scout movement, the Tasmanian branch of the Royal Enterprise Society and the Royal Society. He was a member of the Board of the Launceston Church Grammar School, the Northern Law Society and a Past Senior Warden of the Grand Lodge of Tasmania.

He was interested in sport and in his younger days often represented Tasmania at inter-colonial cricket matches. After a very active life William Martin died on 11^th December, 1938. Kate his Wife died on 24^th April 1942.

The family attended St. John's Church and gave generously during the building extensions. After the deaths of William and Kate, family and friends gave to the church a stained-glass window picturing 'Faith', a cover for the font and a prayer desk, these last two beautifully carved in Tasmanian oak. The three inscriptions are as follows:
Window:
A.M.D.G. TO THE GLORY OF GOD
AND IN MEMORY OF
WILLIAM AND KATE MARTIN
THE GIFT OF EDITH READ
Font cover:
IN MEMORY OF WILLIAM AND KATE MARTIN
Prayer desk:
"IN MEMORYOF WILLIAM AND KATE MARTIN

Source

Extract from 'Engraved in Memory' by J.S.Gill. 1988