FYSH, SIR PHILIP OAKLEY (1835-1919), premier of Tasmania,

the son of John and Charlotte Fysh, was born at Highbury, London, on 1 March 1835. Educated at the Denmark Hill school, he obtained a position in the office of a merchant with large Australian connexions. He emigrated to Tasmania in 1859 and established the firm of P. 0. Fysh and Company, general merchants, which he carried on successfully until 1894, when he handed over the business to a son. In 1866 he was elected to the Tasmanian legislative council and remained a member for six years. In August 1873 he was elected to the house of assembly and became treasurer in the Kennerley (q.v.) ministry until March 1875, but remained in the cabinet as a minister without portfolio for another 15 months. In June 1877 he became leader of the opposition and in August, premier. Losing his seat at the election held early in 1878 he visited Europe and remained out of politics for six years. In March 1884 he was elected to the legislative council for Buckingham, and in March 1887 became premier and colonial secretary in his second ministry, which lasted for more than five years. He was again elected to the assembly and was treasurer in Braddon's (q.v.) ministry from April 1894 to December 1898, when he was appointed agent-general for Tasmania at London.

Fysh took an important part in the federal movement in Tasmania. He was a representative of his colony at the 1891 and 1897 conventions, and was a member of the Australian delegation that watched the passing of the federal bill through the Imperial Parliament. He returned to Tasmania, was elected a member of the house of representatives in the first federal parliament, and was a minister without portfolio in the first ministry from April 1901 to August 1903, when he became postmaster-general. He held the same position in the Deakin (q.v.) ministry from September 1903 to April 1904. Retiring from politics in 1910 he died on 20 December 1919. He was created K.C.M.G. in January 1896.

Fysh was tall and spare, with a flowing beard. A sound business man, a director of well-known companies and president of the central board of health, Hobart, he was much respected both in Tasmania and in the federal house. He may be remembered chiefly for his consistent work for federation.