Sir James Boucaut

11th Premier of South Australia

James Penn Boucaut worked as a lawyer before entering the South Australian Parliament in 1861. He was premier three times from 1866-67, 1875-76 and 1877-78. During his second premiership, Boucaut proposed plans for the development of transport to rural South Australia to increase trade. This railway line was to extend to the River Murray as well as to the north. The plan was voted against due to the proposed tax increases, but was started under the next ministry. It was also during Boucaut’s second premiership that his ministry instituted free secular and compulsory education. He resigned from parliament in 1878 to take up a position on the Supreme Court where he remained until 1905.