Obituaries Australia

William Symon, 1879

State Library of South Australia, B 63465

The numerous Adelaide friends of the late Mr. William Symon, M.A., will learn with regret that his death occurred at Boulder City, West Australia, on Tuesday. Mr. Symon, who was a brother of Mr. J. H. Symon, Q.C., was a native of Stirling, Scotland, and as a scholar in the High School of that city he distinguished himself, as he subsequently did at St. Andrew's University, where he graduated, and secured high honors in English literature. While in London he took a great interest in military affairs, and was appointed lieutenant in the 20th Middlesex Battalion. Having entered at Gray's Inn he was called to the Bar in 1878, and in the same year he came to Adelaide, where he joined Mr. J. H. Symon as a partner in the firm of Symon, Bakewell, & Symon. At once he began to take an active interest in the educational affairs of the colony, and having been admitted to the Adelaide University ad eundem grudem, he was appointed a member of the Senate. For some years he was one of the board of examiners at he Supreme Court. Soon after the dissolution of the firm of which he was a member, in 1889, he went into the country, and about the same time was called to the bar of New South Wales. Subsequently he resolved to try the golden west, and having been admitted to the bar of that colony, he practised first at Kalgoorlie, and afterwards at Boulder City. It was in the last-named place that he caught a cold last winter, which settled on his lungs, and although with care and attention he recovered sufficiently to resume his practice, the disease about three or four weeks ago developed into serious lung trouble, which brought about the end. The deceased gentleman by his kindly genial disposition and good nature, and by his brilliant powers of conversation made many friends, both in Adelaide and elsewhere. In court he was an able advocate and possessed remarkable persuasive powers. He was a man of many gifts, amongst them being exceptional literary attainments. He married while in Adelaide a daughter of Mr. Jefferson Stow. Mr. J. H. Symon was naturally greatly shocked on receiving a telegram from Mr. Hamilton, of Boulder City, informing him of the decease of his brother. The deceased gentleman was in the 46th year of his age.