Frederick Ayers

Frederick Ayers was born in Aldgate, South Australia, on 4 March 1847, the third son of Sir Henry Ayers.[1]

Frederick was one of the earliest pupils to attend St. Peter's College.  He then left for England in 1864, studying at Cambridge, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts and subsequently graduated Master of Arts in 1875.[2]  In 1877 he was also bestowed an honorary Master of Arts from the University of Adelaide.[3]

In January 1870, whilst still in England, Frederick was called to the Bar.[4]  That year, he also married Evelyn Cameron Page, before returning to Adelaide in 1871.[5]

In Adelaide, Frederick commenced his own legal practice but soon joined his brother, Frank Ayers, who had been working with Randolph Isham Stow.  When Stow was made a judge in 1875, Frederick and Frank went into partnership with T. B. Gall and formed the firm Ayers, Ayers and Gall.[6]

A senator from the University's inception, Frederick also served as a member on its Council from 1882 to 1884 and again from 1886 until his death in 1897.[7]  He was also Dean of the Faculty of Law from 1888 to 1889.[8]

Frederick Ayers passed away on Monday, 1 February 1897.[9]

Footnotes:

1. Australian National University 2022, 'Ayers, Frederick (1847–1897)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, viewed 31 October 2022, <https://oa.anu.edu.au/obituary/ayers-frederick-19217>.

2. South Australian Register 1897, 'Death of Mr. Frederick Ayers', South Australian Register, 2 February, p. 6., viewed 31 October 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54489306>.    

3. The University of Adelaide Calendar (1878). Thomas, Clark & Co., Adelaide, p. 10.

4. Adelaide Observer 1870, 'The week's news,' Adelaide Observer, 2 July, p. 5., viewed 31 October 2022, <http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article158943564>.

5. Ayers, LL 1946, Sir Henry Ayers K.C.M.G and his family, Pioneers' Association of S.A., Adelaide.

6. South Australian Register 1897, 'Death of Mr. Frederick Ayers', South Australian Register', 2 February, p. 6., viewed 31 October 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54489306>.   

7. University of Adelaide Calendar (1882-1884, 1886-1897), W. K. Thomas & Co., Adelaide.

8. University of Adelaide Calendar (1888, 1889), W. K. Thomas & Co. Adelaide.

9. South Australian Register 1897, 'Death of Mr. Frederick Ayers', South Australian Register , 2 February, p. 6., viewed 31 October 2022,
<http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54489306>.

Image:

'Frederick Ayers, MA - 1881-1897', [black and white photograph], University of Adelaide. University Archives, Series 1151, Item 0032.