Thomas Reynolds

5th Premier of South Australia

On 9 May 1860 English-born reformer, Thomas Reynolds, became South Australia’s 5th premier as well as its treasurer. He was in office for less than eighteen months before resigning, but went on to hold the position of treasurer in several other ministries. After ending his political career in 1873 he moved to Darwin. Reynolds and his wife Anne Litchfield were drowned when the SS Gothenburg, on which they were returning to Adelaide, was wrecked in a tropical storm off the north Queensland coast on 24 February 1875. As a long-time member of the temperance movement, Reynolds was often fondly referred to as Teapot Tommy.