Timothy Augustine Coghlan KCMG ISO (1855 - 1926)

Born 9 Jun 1855 in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)

Husband of Helena Mary (Donnelly) Coghlan — married 27 Apr 1897 in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia)

Died 30 Apr 1926 at age 70 in London, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

Timothy Coghlan KCMG ISO is Notable.

Sir Timothy Coghlan KCMG ISO FRSS MICE was an Australian statistician, engineer, economic historian and diplomat. He held the post of New South Wales government statistician for nineteen years, and served as Agent-General for New South Wales in London over a 21-year period.

Timothy Coghlan KCMG ISO was born in the Colony of New South Wales (1788-1900)

Timothy Coghlan KCMG ISO has Irish ancestors.

Timothy Augustine Coghlan was born on 9th June 1855 in Sydney, New South Wales (Australia) and was christened in St James' Church of England (Anglican Church) Church, Sydney. He was the second son of Irish-born Roman Catholic parents Thomas Coghlan, a plasterer, and Dorcas Jordan. The family later settled in nearby Redfern. Timothy was educated at Cleveland Street Public School and from 1867 to 1869 the Sydney Grammar School. ^[1]

For six months in 1870 Timothy worked in a wool-broking office. In October he became a pupil-teacher at Fort Street Public School, but resigned in December 1872. In 1873 he joined the Department of Public Works. He became an Associate Member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, London (MICE), in 1882. Advancing rapidly, he was appointed assistant engineer of harbours and rivers in January 1884. The statistical and mathematical aspects of the work attracted him moreso than the engineering aspect.

When the New South Wales Department of Statistics was created in 1886, Timothy was appointed government statistician. Whilst his appointment was much criticised, Timothy held the position for nineteen years and showed great industry and ability. In 1887 he published the first issue of The Wealth and Progress of New South Wales which continued to appear almost at yearly intervals. He was also registrar of Friendly Societies from 1892 to 1905, a member of the public service board from 1896 to 1900 and chairman of the board of old age pensions from 1901 to 1905. In 1903 Timothy was appointed Agent-General for the state of New South Wales in London, England; remaining so until his death apart from three short breaks (in 1904, 1915 and 1918-19). He was well qualified for the role and to deal with the many loans floated in London. He also used his position to promote emigration to Australia, and specifically New South Wales. Timothy was appointed Companion of the Imperial Service Order (ISO) on 29th May 1903 as Agent-General for New South Wales in London. ^[2] Also that year, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Statistical Society, London (FRSS).

Timothy married Helena 'Lena' Donnelly on 27th April 1897 in St Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Sydney. ^[3] The couple subsequently had a son, Arthur, and a daughter, Ellen.

In December 1905, Timothy was offered the chance to become the inaugural Commonwealth Statistician, heading the newly created Commonwealth Bureau of Census and Statistics. He did not, however, accept the offer due to 'his obligations to the Premier of New South Wales'; later telling Prime Minister Alfred Deakin that Joseph Carruthers had threatened to withdraw his pension entitlements if he accepted the federal position.

On 24th February 1914, Timothy was created Knight Bachelor in recognition of his service as Agent-General for New South Wales in London. ^[4] Four years later, in the King's Birthday Honours 1918, he was created Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG) in recognition of his service as Agent-General for New South Wales in London. ^[5]

In 1918 he published, in four volumes, Labour and Industry in Australia from the first Settlement in 1788 to the Establishment of the Commonwealth in 1901.

Aged seventy years, Sir Timothy passed away on 30th April 1926 in London. His funeral was held in St Mary's Roman Catholic Church, Cadogan Street, Kensal Green and his remains are in a mausoleum in the church cemetery. ^[6] He was survived by Helen, who passed ten years later and their two children.

Sources

1. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #337/1855 V1855337 72
2. ↑ Australian Honours: ISO; accessed 14 Apr 2024
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #2476/1897
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Knight Bachelor; accessed 14 Apr 2024
5. ↑ Australian Honours: KCMG; accessed 14 Apr 2024
6. ↑ UK FreeBMD Death Index Jun qtr 1926, vol 1a, page 423; registered at Chelsea

See also

• Hicks, Neville. 'Coghlan, Sir Timothy Augustine (1855–1926)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 1981; accessed online 14 Apr 2024.
• Wikipedia: Timothy Augustine Coghlan; accessed 14 Apr 2024.