Downer family

John Downer in 1898

Hon Sir Alexander Downer

Alexander Downer Jr in 2006

The Downer family has played a significant role in the South Australian and Australian political and social sphere since the early days of European settlement.

Name	Birth name	Alive	Occupation	Office	Parents	Spouse	Notes
Henry Downer		1811 – 1870				Jane Field	arrived on the Eden in 1838[1]
George Downer	Alexander George Downer	1839 – 1916	Barrister, journalist, businessman		Henry Downer and Jane Downer (née Field)	unmarried
John Downer	John William Downer	1843 – 1915	Partner in the legal firm G & J Downer	Premier of South Australia 1885 – 1887, 1892 – 1893	Henry Downer and Jane Downer (née Field)	Una Stella Haslingden Russell
Henry Edward Downer		1836 – 1905	lawyer, businessman, politician		Henry Downer and Jane Downer (née Field)	Maria Martin Haggar
Alick Downer	Alexander Russell Downer	1910 – 1981		Minister for Immigration, Australian 1958 – 1963 High Commissioner in London 1964 – 1972	John William Downer and Una Stella Haslingden Downer (née Russell)	Mary Isobel Gosse
Mary Downer	Mary Isobel Gosse	1924 – 2014			James Hay Gosse and Joanna Lang Gosse (née Barr Smith)	Alick Downer
Alexander Downer		1951 –		Minister for Foreign Affairs 1996 – 2007 Opposition Leader (Liberal Party) 1994 - 1995	Alick Downer and Mary Downer (née Gosse)	Nicola Robinson

References

1. Naval Tailor Fathers a Political Dynasty: Henry DOWNER (1811‐1870) & Jane FIELD (1806‐1861), The Pioneers Association of South Australia Inc. Retrieved 13 March 2016

External links

• The Alexander Downer Archival Collection at the University of South Australia Library